Toronto Raptors fifth-year wing RJ Barrett has been playing exceptionally well since being traded by the New York Knicks last December.
On the eve of New Year’s Eve, the move symbolized new beginnings for the Toronto native. While the Knicks made the move to bring more balance to their starting lineup, his time in New York had gone stale. In 2024, Barrett is playing with renewed vigor as a homegrown fan favorite.
In 26 games with the Raptors, the 23-year-old is averaging 20.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. More impressively, he’s done so while shooting 55.5 percent from the field and 42.0 percent from 3, numbers that might be unsustainable but that highlight his growth as a finisher and spot-up shooter.
RJ Barrett Flourishing After Raptors Trade
Barrett hasn’t been faced with the cumbersome expectations usually reserved for players selected within the top-3 of the NBA Draft.
Perhaps it’s because of his equanimous nature. After all, even with the pressure to help the Knicks regain their status as a playoff team, Barrett seemed to absorb any criticism levied his way without seeming to let it affect his psyche or approach the game. His flattened affect is more reminiscent of Tracy McGrady than Kawhi Leonard. However, his lack of outward expression was nonetheless an emotional shield, protecting him from the typical tirades of fans and media.
Yet, there’s also the possibility that Barrett was never expected to be an All-Star-level player. While being drafted third overall in the 2019 NBA Draft as a one-and-done prospect from Duke’s prestigious men’s basketball program, his draft class was headlined by former Blue Devils teammate Zion Williamson.
Different Expectations
At the time, Williamson was being compared to several NBA stars. On the one hand, he was compared to powerful dunkers such as Larry Johnson and Shawn Kemp. Due to his size and all-around impact, Williamson was also compared to Hall of Fame talents such as Charles Barkley and LeBron James.
As a result of not quite meeting the people’s highest expectations, he’s been criticized by fans, media, and even his organization.
Some of those reasons were valid. One such criticism was that he hadn’t helped elevate the New Orleans Pelicans into a playoff team. The Pelicans, established in 2002 as the Hornets, have only reached the playoffs eight times in their 22-year history. The last time was a 2022 NBA Playoff appearance spurred by the play of CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram, as Williamson missed the entire 2021-22 season following foot surgery.
To that point, despite being the face of the franchise, he’s never actually led them to a postseason appearance. That could change this season, with the Pelicans (39-25) currently fifth in the West. However, it’s still no guarantee. In any case, his lack of availability is the primary reason it hasn’t happened sooner. Williamson had missed more games (135) than even Ben Simmons (122) from the 2021-22 to 2022-23 season.
Nonetheless, Williamson remains the only player from his class who was expected to be an All-Star from the outset. That’s played a significant role in how he’s covered and perceived.
Under Fire in New York
So, despite being selected just two spots after Williamson, Barrett escaped the Carolinian’s fate. Of course, that didn’t prevent him from being traded. Still, it’s allowed him to grow into his own without nearly as much fuss about who and where he is as a player.
That said, with the Knicks, Barrett was an underrated piece. His inconsistent finishing and shooting ability were fairly critiqued. His lack of on-court awareness, both offensively and defensively, was also sticking point for his detractors. Lastly, Barrett had shown only modest improvement since being drafted.
Still, the primary issue that people had with Barrett was his lack of highlight reel plays. Even when he played well, he hardly popped on the screen. This —combined with his slow development and a ‘jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none’ skillset —made it easy for fans to make deprecating statements about his ability and impact.
Yet, Barrett averaged 18.1 points per game with the Knicks. That mark tied with popular Miami Heat wing Tyler Herro for the fifth-highest scoring average in his class. In the two seasons preceding New York’s acquisition of Jalen Brunson, a trade that dramatically decreased Barrett’s opportunities as an on-ball scorer, Barrett was averaging 18.8 points per game on 36.7 percent shooting from 3. Those numbers rank third and seventh, respectively, among 2019 draftees that play at least 20 minutes per game.
That being said, the acquisition of Brunson may have foreshadowed Barrett’s end in New York. Barrett may be best suited as the third scorer on a championship contender. However, his being one spot lower on the rung limited his potential for growth. It also shortened his leash, with the Knicks less keen on giving him time to grow.
The Road Ahead
Now, Barrett is being afforded opportunities that were taken from him in the Big Apple. Furthermore, he’s now with a renowned player development coach in Darko Rajakovic. Whether he’s able to sustain his recent play with the Raptors is frankly anyone’s guess.
However, on a rebuilding team missing their centerpiece in Scottie Barnes, this could be the best chance he ever gets to prove that he’s been a star all along.
