RJ Barrett Has Returned Home
Photo by Chris Young
RJ Barrett hasn’t played with the Raptors for long, but he has adapted rather quickly after the New York Knicks traded him in a package deal.
The Toronto native has reached double figures in all five of his games as a Raptor, including a show stopping 37 points, shooting 13 for 20 from the field, against the Golden State Warriors. This was the third highest scoring game of his career and the most points scored by a Canadian born player in Raptors history.
Over the course of those five games, he is averaging 21.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists while shooting 58.5 percent from the field. Barrett seems much more comfortable playing in Toronto after an up and down career with the Knicks.
Though Barrett was excited about the move, it was certainly one he did not see coming after spending just over four seasons in New York. “I was so confused. I didn’t see it coming,” Barrett told Andscape’s Marc J. Spears. “When he told me the Raptors, I was like, ok, at least I’m coming home.”
There are other trade rumors floating around the Toronto Raptors organization, but Barrett will have to be at his best if they look to make a post season appearance. The Toronto Raptors are 3-2 since acquiring Barrett and currently sit 11th in the Eastern Conference standings.
Barrett will return to Madison Square Garden in a matchup with the Knicks on Jan. 20th.
