Undisputed starter for the Knicks since his arrival in New York, RJ Barrett did not participate in the crazy adventure of the 2024 playoffs of Jalen Brunson and his teammates. And for good reason: he was transferred to Toronto during the season, to a team without ambition.
The Knicks failed in the conference semifinals, as they did in 2023, and with the arrival of Mikal Bridges this summer, they will aim even higher for 2025. The Canadian winger is delighted with the rise of the franchise, which had only won 17 games the season before his Draft…
“I think people forget that we really built something. When I arrived, we were not contenders for the title, not at all,” recalls the former Duke Sharp Magazine. “My second year, we made the playoffs. Then we kept going. We gave the fans something to cheer about. They deserve it. It’s a tough city, but we earned their love. I’m happy we did it.”
Is RJ Barrett already nostalgic for that period in New York, 297 games and almost five seasons long? “There are things I miss, yes. Especially my guys, the relationships built over time.”the winger replies. “The pressure was really unique. But there’s a different pressure coming to Toronto, coming home, and I’m lucky to experience that.”
“It’s truly a dream come true.”
For a Canadian, playing in Toronto, the only Canadian franchise in the NBA, is inevitably a lot of emotions. “It’s truly a dream come true.”even assures the international, who played in the Olympic Games with his national team this summer.
“I grew up coming to their matches with my father”he continues. “When I realized I was coming home, I didn't know how to react. I was pinching myself: This is it, I'm going to play for the Raptors.”
In a way, RJ Barrett is going back to square one. Like in New York in 2019, he is in a weak team (25 wins last season) that will have to be gradually improved.
“It’s interesting to think about the whole journey, from the beginning to now. The ups and downs, the good times and the bad. It’s been incredible. I have a lot of people to thank for that. Being home helps put things into perspective,” he delivers. “I want to grow with Puma (its equipment supplier) and winning with the Raptors, but I also want people around me. The older I get, the more I realize that my idea of success is mostly how many people I can take with me.”
| RJ Barrett | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2019-20 | NYK | 56 | 30 | 40.2 | 32.0 | 61.4 | 0.9 | 4.1 | 5.0 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 14.3 |
| 2020-21 | NYK | 72 | 35 | 44.1 | 40.1 | 74.6 | 0.9 | 4.8 | 5.8 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 17.6 |
| 2021-22 | NYK | 70 | 35 | 40.8 | 34.2 | 71.4 | 0.9 | 4.9 | 5.8 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 20.0 |
| 2022-23 | NYK | 73 | 34 | 43.4 | 31.0 | 74.0 | 0.8 | 4.2 | 5.0 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 19.6 |
| 2023-24 * | All Teams | 58 | 32 | 49.5 | 36.0 | 71.5 | 0.9 | 4.5 | 5.4 | 3.3 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 20.2 |
| 2023-24 * | TOR | 32 | 34 | 55.3 | 39.2 | 62.9 | 1.1 | 5.3 | 6.4 | 4.1 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 21.8 |
| 2023-24 * | NYK | 26 | 30 | 42.3 | 33.1 | 83.1 | 0.7 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 18.2 |
| Total | 329 | 33 | 43.5 | 34.6 | 71.0 | 0.9 | 4.5 | 5.4 | 2.9 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 18.5 | |
How to read the stats? GM = Games Played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots Made / Shots Attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers Attempted; LF = Free Throws Made / Free Throws Attempted; Off = Offensive Rebound; Def = Defensive Rebound; Tot = Total Rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal Fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose Balls; Ct: Blocks; Pts = Points.
