Toronto Raptors swingman RJ Barrett’s career has been rejuvenated by the New York Knicks’ decision to trade him last season.
The third overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Barrett now consistently looks the part. In fact, he may be on the verge of his first All-Star selection. With averages of 23.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game, Barrett is one just 17 players posting at least 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists per game this season. Only seven of those players are in the East.
“It’s always been there. I’m just getting to showcase it more,” Barrett tells Michael Grange of Sportsnet.
Raptors Rising Star RJ Barrett Relishing Opportunity Knicks Didn’t Give
As Grange notes, Barrett’s admission that his opportunities have expanded north of the border isn’t new. The Toronto native literally hit the ground running when he was traded to the Raptors and has been asked what’s changed for him in myriad ways.
“No. 1, the brand of basketball is different. I think it fits my style a little more. The team that we have, we’re young, we run… I’ve always been a guy that’s been good in transition, so that always helps.”
For those that watched him in New York, his answer isn’t inaccurate either.
There have been times when it seemed like the Knicks were prepared to give him the keys to the franchise. However, after New York traded for Jalen Brunson, he took a backseat in the Big Apple. At best, Barrett was going to be the third option behind him and Julius Randle. In that role, he could lean into his strengths as a scorer and connector but it capped his ceiling.
Barrett’s latest comments are particularly enlightening though. Not because he concedes being able to step into larger shoes in Toronto. It’s because he acknowledges feeling frozen out of the Knicks’ offense.
“I think that those guys were so good that we didn’t need the cuts and stuff … they’re gonna put the ball in the basket,” he says. “In basketball sometimes, better offense wins, and it clearly worked, it’s effective … I was able to do my thing [in New York]. It’s just here, I’m more efficient.”
“… I cut more [here] just because I know I have a chance to get [the ball] and even when I don’t get it, I’m not upset about it because I know I’m getting it on the next one … If you cut all the time and you never get the ball, you’re probably not gonna want to cut,” he quips.
Avoiding A Territorial Dispute
Feeling shut out of the offense —in some sense — off-ball and on-ball, must have been some frustrating to Barrett. To his credit, he kept his head down and held himself accountable in New York. Nonetheless, it had to have been a hard pill to swallow for a young player and top-three draft pick.
To that point, keep in mind that he’s still just 24 years old.
With that being said, though Barrett’s been developing great chemistry with Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley, the Raptors should be aware of where he wants to be in the pecking order. This could be particularly important come draft time. Currently projected to land the No. 4 pick, Toronto could be in position to select a prized perimeter prospect, like Texas freshman Tre Johnson. That’s exactly the type of move that could lead to a decrease in Barrett’s touches though, complicating matters.
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