QUEBEC—Just a couple of weeks before he realized his life’s dream of being a first-round NBA draft pick, RJ Barrett was mesmerized by Kawhi Leonard’s four-bounce, series-winning 2019 basket that has become the seminal shot in three decades of Raptors history.
asserted
that → realize → history
“I was watching and jumping up and down,” he recalled this week.
asserted
he → watch → ?
All those years when the teenaged Barrett was building to that draft, forming a career that has earned him accolades and unimaginable riches and fame, he was a diehard fan of his local team, living and dying with its successes and failures, able to rattle off the lineup at the drop of a hat.
asserted
he → build → hat
“I’ve been a Raptors fan my whole life,” he said.
asserted
he → say → ?
One of the memorable statements in franchise history was when the iconic DeMar DeRozan vowed “I am Toronto.”
asserted
I → vow → history
But even that can’t match Barrett’s reality.
asserted
that → match → reality
And that’s not going to change despite what could turn into a season-long conversation over the lack of a contract extension, what it means about being a free agent in July 2027, and concern about the 26-year-old’s future in Toronto.
uncertain
it → go → Toronto
“I’m still trying to be here (and) at the end of the day this is my spot,” Barrett said as Raptors training camp began this week.
asserted
camp → try → day
“Whatever happens in my career, if I end up somewhere else, nothing will compare to (the experience of) playing here.”
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nothing → happen → experience
To understand Barrett well is to understand how important it is to him to be a homegrown Raptor.
asserted
it → understand → him
Since he was obtained from New York in a December 2023 trade, the six-foot-six left-hander has leaned into his roots and what it means to play for the Raptors.
asserted
it → obtain → Raptors
There have been NBA players who have avoided playing at home or haven’t enjoyed doing it because of the demands that accompany the responsibility: friends and family looking for tickets, and off-court requests for appearances or time.
asserted
that → avoid → appearances
Bring it on, says Barrett.
asserted
Barrett → bring → it
“There’s been nothing in the Mississauga-Toronto area that’s caught me by surprise,” he said of his three years with the Raptors.
asserted
he → catch → Raptors
“Honestly, it’s a positive for me because I know what to stay away from, where to go, what to do.
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I → ’ → what
It’s easier.”
asserted
It → ’ → ?
It’s possible that Barrett’s desire to impress fans in his hometown has helped him carve out the best career by any of the 10 Canadians who have worn a Toronto uniform.
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who → ’ → uniform
Barrett has averaged 20.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game in his first 147 games with the Raptors, numbers that eclipse any Canadian player in team history and stats that rival any of his current teammates.
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that → average → teammates
In that same span, Scottie Barnes has averaged 18.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and Immanuel Quickley has averaged 17.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists.
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Quickley → average → points
Of course, roles and responsibility and defensive metrics aren’t part of that statistical look, but there’s no question that Barrett has been a major part of Toronto’s ascension over the past three years.
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Barrett → ’ → years
“That’s the beauty and the luxury of having RJ Barrett, because he’s so diverse offensively,” Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said.
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Rajakovic → ’ → Barrett
“He’s great in transition.
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He → ’ → transition
He plays off his teammates.
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He → play → teammates
He’s a great cutter.
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He → ’ → ?
He does a great job of getting in a window to get an open shot.
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He → do → shot
He just has a great feel to play off the ball.
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He → have → ball
“And in combination when he’s on the ball in pick-and-rolls or iso situations, I think he brings a lot of value.”
asserted
he → ’ → value
This could be a magical season for Barrett with a desire to carry his hometown team to greater heights.
uncertain
This → carry → heights
The addition of Leonard to Barrett, Barnes, Quickley and Jakob Poeltl represents the best Toronto starting five since the 2019 championship team, and Barrett will be central to any post-season success.
asserted
Barrett → represent → success
He was tremendous last spring in his Toronto playoff debut, averaging 24.1 points, seven rebounds and four assists in seven games against Cleveland.
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He → average → Cleveland
“The way we saw him play in the playoffs, the tenacity that he brought on the defensive end, the rebounding aspect, and just his ability to create his own shot and to play-make for his teammates …
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he → see → teammates
I think it’s amazing,” Rajakovic said.
asserted
Rajakovic → think → ?
“We don’t expect anything less from him.”
asserted
We → expect → him
While Barrett’s appreciation for playing at home won’t dissipate and his pivotal role on the roster could very well grow, the realities of NBA finances will cloud what should be a start-to-finish feel-good story.
uncertain
what → play → finish
Barrett is entering the final year of a megacontract he signed in New York — it’s worth almost $30 million (U.S.) this season — and there’s no traction on a new deal.
asserted
it → enter → deal
The Raptors want to see how this iteration of the team clicks before offering Barrett a new deal.
asserted
iteration → want → deal
Toronto can make major money figures work — it would be difficult, but not impossible with other deals and taxes factored in — but it’s not going to happen soon.
asserted
it → make → deals
That means the player who most appreciates the chance to play in Toronto may spend the entire season dogged by chatter about him leaving.
uncertain
him → mean → chatter
At this point, less than a week into training camp, he’s not worn down by the questions.
asserted
he → wear → questions
“I feel like at the end of the day, whether you get a contract or not, you just keep playing,” he said.
asserted
he → feel → contract
…and 4 more, not listed.
The Aporia
