It’s been (nearly) a year since the Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks agreed to send RJ Barrett home to his native Canada. The trade was years in the making. Maybe decades. Even on Draft Night 2019, when the Knicks took RJ third overall, it seemed inevitable he’d end up in his hometown north of the border. Off to a hot start in his first full season in Toronto, the Raptors’ RJ Barrett seems to be right at home. Because he is. The trade’s true winners are Canadian NBA fans. What better way to celebrate 30 years of Canada’s sole NBA franchise than a long-awaited homecoming?
Raptors’ RJ Barrett loves doing home work.
In his 6th NBA season, RJ Barrett is far from the 15-year-old who left Mississauga, Ontario for Florida’s Montverde Academy. A decade later and playing for the team he lived up the road from, RJ Barrett is fulfilling his destiny to be great for Canadian basketball. And the entire nation can see him singing “O Canada” 82 times a year. Finally.
Only five current Raptors have been in the league longer than RJ Barrett. In his 24th year and snubbed again from ESPN’s “NBA 25 Under 25” list, RJ is an early bright spot for the injury-riddled Raptors in the 2024-2025 season. He’s top of the league in fast break points, and consistently lurking under the rim for second-chance points. He’ll collect rebounds to kick out to the corner, and of course, fight his way to the rim like only RJ Barrett can.
And where layups and rebounds alone don’t constitute standout offensive effort, RJ is averaging career highs in three-point percentage, assists, and points. His first full season as a Raptor comes with the best start we’ve seen from him in five years. And he shows no sign of slowing.
With finger rolls sweeter than maple syrup and the emphatic bullying of any unsuspecting defender, RJ’s elevated his stats and his entertainment value. It’s been enough to win Raptor fans’ hearts, especially those with experience rooting for a twenty-something Rowan Barrett.
In 2000, two important things happened to the Canadian senior men’s basketball team. First, it qualified for the Sydney Olympics. Then the squad’s captain, Rowan Barrett, became a father.
The turn of the century also brought the team, which featured two-time All-Star Steve Nash, its last international competition. Until 24 years later, when Rowan Barrett, Jr. debuted at the Games. The Raptors’ RJ Barrett and captain Kelly Olynyk, plus a slew of NBA stars including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray, showed out in Paris. This team’s 5th place result is the country’s third-best Olympic finish.
The Raptors’ RJ Barrett hasn’t seen home minutes in Canada since high school.
But he’s shined as a member of his nation’s senior men’s basketball team. From winning MVP as the youngest member of the 2017 FIBA U19 World Cup team, to leading Canada in scoring at the 2024 Paris Games, the artist formerly known as “Maple Mamba” consistently thrives on home-court advantage.
RJ already looked comfortable in the 2024-2025 preseason Canadian Series, outscoring everyone on the court, including three of his countrymen.
It can’t be a coincidence that Barrett’s best season start is his first in Toronto, where he was born and raised (in the suburb of Mississauga, to be exact). Where he had 22 different 30+ scoring performances playing for New York, RJ already has 6 as a Raptor. This includes back-to-back 30-pieces in November. Not to mention his first career triple-double…and his second. Those Raptors’ RJ Barrett fan chants through Scotiabank Arena might be heard in Manhattan.
RJ Barrett. The catalyst for New York’s return to relevance. He supported his former teammates’ 2024 playoff run, pulling for the team that raised him. And for the fanbase that roots for RJ and offensive difference-maker Immanuel Quickley.
As the Boston Celtics know more than anyone, RJ Barrett likes to play at home.
A lot.
His career-high in points (46) came at MSG, too. As much as he loved New York, RJ’s happy repping Toronto across his chest. And this homecoming is already making franchise history.
Scottie Barnes loves the way they complement each other. Julius Randle saw RJ’s greatness in the 5 years they shared a court (and once, a SLAM cover). And Steve Nash, who is also RJ’s godfather, told Bleacher Report that he stopped playing RJ 1-on-1 in 2015. Who can say why?
NBA legend Steve Nash tells us why his godson, 2018 No. 1 recruit RJ Barrett, is the real deal 🔥 pic.twitter.com/38RWllywQc
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 28, 2018
Home is where the hoop is. Or Scotiabank Arena, where the Raptors’ RJ Barrett averages over 30 points per game. RJ’s success will continue, without an unimpressive record overshadowing his first full season up north. Will RJ Barrett get an All-Star nod this year? Maybe. He has a case for Most Improved Player, at the very least. The competition is tough, the league has plenty of young talent, and the Raptors are tanking, but an entire country is watching one kid from Toronto.
It’s the Raptors’ RJ Barrett, back like he never left.
