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RJ Barrett gets real about “emotions” of facing his former New York Knicks team

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1 week ago

December 10, 2024

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RJ Barrett gets real about “emotions” of facing his former New York Knicks team

RJ Barrett can only admit that there are plenty of emotions overflowing at his side as he faced his former New York Knicks team.

In the aftermath of his Toronto Raptors’ 113-108 loss on Wednesday, Barrett went real about what he felt about meeting his former squad again with Dec. 30 already nearing for the first-year anniversary of their breakup.

“It’s your old team, so there are always emotions,” he said after a game-high 30-point losing effort against the Knicks. “I was one of those people that was there from Day 1, when I got drafted. So, definitely some emotions, for sure.”

Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images

A shocking departure

The Knicks chose Barrett for the No. 3 overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft and was immediately identified by the organization as part of their desired future in the post-Carmelo Anthony era. Across the next four seasons, the former Duke star has shown plenty of promise and improvement, becoming an important unit to the Knicks’ eventual rise from being a rebuilding group into one of the Eastern Conference’s best.

But from the past 2023-24 campaign, Barrett’s name was consistently brought up around the league’s trade chatter despite hammering a four-year, $120MM extension back in 2022. And eventually, in the middle of the season, he was dealt to Toronto alongside Immanuel Quickley and a 2024 second-round draft pick that allowed New York to acquire OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa, and Malachi Flynn.

Barrett openly admitted that he was in shock about being traded by the Knicks despite being a major piece of their competitive team.

Blessing in disguise

This shouldn’t be said anymore, but Barrett’s departure in the Big Apple simply served a blessing in disguise for his young and blossoming career as it allowed him to make a homecoming and thrive for new beginnings in the North.

Now at the helm of the Raptors’ brand-new core, Barrett is currently savoring a year of revelation as he is tallying career bests in points (23.3), rebounds (6.6), assists (5.9), and field goal attempts (18.5) en route to 45.8 percent efficiency — a stat line that deserves plenty of All-Star consideration.

But beyond these numbers, the 24-year-old couldn’t be happier and fulfilled that he’s now reunited with his family and playing in front of his fellow Canadians while repping his hometown team.

At the end of the day and despite feeling some ‘What-Ifs’ related to his time in the Knicks, Barrett can still consider himself blessed that he seized a dream come true opportunity of becoming a Raptor.