RJ Barrett is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors. Drafted third overall in 2019 by the New York Knicks, he played college basketball for Duke University.
1991: Dahlia Duhaney's Gold Medal at IAAF World Championships
In 1991, RJ Barrett's maternal aunt, Dahlia Duhaney, a former track and field athlete at St. John's University, won a gold medal as part of the Jamaican 4x100m relay team at the IAAF World Championships.
June 14, 2000: Birth of RJ Barrett
On June 14, 2000, RJ Barrett was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
2000: Rowan Barrett Captains Canada at the Olympics
In 2000, RJ Barrett's father, Rowan Barrett, served as the captain of the Canadian national basketball team at the Summer Olympics, following a successful collegiate career at St. John's University and a professional career across Europe and South America.
2005: Early Exposure to Basketball
Around 2005, RJ Barrett began playing organized basketball in France, where his father played professionally, showing an early interest in the sport.
2008: Focus on Basketball and Setting Ambitious Goals
In 2008, after his family settled in Mississauga, 12-year-old RJ Barrett decided to focus solely on basketball, setting goals to become an NBA All-Star and enter the Hall of Fame.
August 3, 2014: Dominating Performance at Under-15 Provincial Tournament
On August 3, 2014, RJ Barrett showcased his skills by scoring 37 points and securing 7 rebounds, leading his team to victory against Quebec in an under-15 provincial tournament.
October 9, 2014: Early High School Success
On October 9, 2014, while playing for St. Marcellinus Secondary School, RJ Barrett scored 27 points against Bill Crothers Secondary School, catching the attention of scouts and earning recognition as a rising star.
2014: Early Recognition and Praise
In 2014, RJ Barrett received early praise for his basketball skills, with analyst Elias Sbiet calling him "special" and a "cold-blooded killer" on the court.
February 2015: MVP at the Guy Vetrie Memorial Tournament
In February 2015, RJ Barrett's stellar performance, including a 41-point game and the game-winning shot, earned him MVP honors at the Guy Vetrie Memorial Tournament.
September 2015: Transfer to Montverde Academy
In September 2015, seeking to further develop his skills, RJ Barrett decided to transfer to Montverde Academy, a renowned basketball program in Florida.
2015: Barrett's U16 FIBA Americas Championship
In 2015, at the FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Argentina, a young RJ Barrett, the youngest player on Canada's U16 national team, made a significant impact by leading his team in scoring with an average of 14.6 points per game, ultimately helping them secure a silver medal.
April 15, 2016: MVP at the Jordan Brand Classic International Game
On April 15, 2016, RJ Barrett showcased his talent on an international stage, scoring 22 points and grabbing 8 rebounds, leading his team to victory and earning MVP honors at the Jordan Brand Classic International Game.
November 2016: Named to the Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award Watch List
In November 2016, RJ Barrett's exceptional skills and performance earned him a spot on the prestigious Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award watch list, highlighting his status as one of the top high school basketball prospects.
2016: Barrett's Performance at the FIBA U17 World Cup
During the 2016 FIBA U17 World Cup in Spain, RJ Barrett showcased his skills with an impressive average of 18.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, earning him a well-deserved spot on eurobasket.com's All-World Cup U17 Second Team.
January 16, 2017: Leading Montverde to Victory at the Spalding Hoophall Classic
On January 16, 2017, RJ Barrett delivered an impressive performance with 21 points, contributing significantly to Montverde Academy's victory against Bishop Montgomery High School in the Spalding Hoophall Classic.
April 2017: Receives Multiple Scholarship Offers, Praised by Coach Roy Rana
In April 2017, RJ Barrett's exceptional talents on the court attracted scholarship offers from many top universities. His coach from the FIBA Under-19 World Cup and Nike Hoop Summit, Roy Rana, recognized his potential, calling him a "star" and a "potential superstar down the road."
July 2017: Barrett Leads Canada to U19 World Cup Victory
In July 2017, at the FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup, RJ Barrett delivered a standout performance with 38 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists, leading Canada to a 99-87 victory against the US in the semi-finals. He continued his dominance throughout the tournament, ultimately leading Canada to the championship title, earning tournament MVP, a spot on the All-Star Five, and leading scorer with 21.6 points per game.
July 31, 2017: Reclassifies to 2018 Class
Believing he was ready for the next level, RJ Barrett made the decision to reclassify to the 2018 class, accelerating his path to college basketball on July 31, 2017.
November 10, 2017: Commits to Duke University
On November 10, 2017, RJ Barrett made the highly anticipated announcement of his commitment to Duke University, citing the program's family atmosphere, esteemed coaching staff led by the legendary Coach K, and his longstanding admiration for the university.
November 28, 2017: Season Opener at Montverde
RJ Barrett kicked off his season at Montverde, the nation's top-ranked team, with an impressive 29-point performance in a dominant win against The Rock School on November 28, 2017.
2017: Praise from Fred Vinson
In 2017, RJ Barrett's performance impressed coach Fred Vinson at the Basketball Without Borders camp, further solidifying his reputation as a rising talent.
2017: Leads Montverde to Geico National Championship
RJ Barrett played a pivotal role in leading the undefeated Montverde team to victory in the Geico National boys’ basketball championship in 2017, culminating in a remarkable championship game performance of 25 points and 15 rebounds.
2017: FIBA Under-19 World Cup MVP
RJ Barrett was named MVP at the 2017 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup, leading Team Canada to a gold medal.
January 11, 2018: Nationally Televised Matchup
In a game broadcast across the country, RJ Barrett showcased his skills with a 24-point performance against Orlando Christian Prep on January 11, 2018.
March 2018: Awarded Morgan Wooten National Player of the Year
In March 2018, RJ Barrett received the Morgan Wooten National Player of the Year award, not just for his on-court skills, but also for his outstanding character, leadership, and embodiment of the values of a student athlete.
December 3, 2018: Named ACC Rookie of the Week
RJ Barrett's outstanding performances early in his Duke career earned him recognition as the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) rookie of the week on December 3, 2018.
December 10, 2018: Earns ACC Player and Freshman of the Week Honors
Continuing his stellar play, RJ Barrett received further accolades on December 10, 2018, being named both the ACC player and freshman of the week for the second time.
2018: Ranked No. 1 Overall Recruit
Further solidifying his status as a rising star, RJ Barrett was bestowed with a five-star recruit rating and attained the coveted ranking of No. 1 overall recruit in the 2018 class.
2018: High School Career and Achievements
In 2018, RJ Barrett concluded his successful high school basketball career, achieving numerous accolades including Naismith Prep Player of the Year and Gatorade National Player of the Year.
2018: RJ Barrett's French Language Skills
In 2018, it was noted that RJ Barrett is fluent in French, although he modestly admitted that his skills were "a little rusty" at the time.
2018: Named MVP at Nike Hoop Summit
RJ Barrett's exceptional performance at the 2018 Nike Hoop Summit, where he scored 20 points and contributed significantly in other areas, earned him the well-deserved title of MVP.
January 28, 2019: Receives Third ACC Freshman of the Week Honor
RJ Barrett's consistently strong performances throughout January earned him his third ACC freshman of the week honor on January 28, 2019, solidifying his status as one of the conference's top newcomers.
February 25, 2019: Named ACC Freshman of the Week for Fourth Consecutive Time
RJ Barrett's exceptional February continued as he was named the ACC freshman of the week for the fourth consecutive time on February 25, 2019, highlighting his dominance and consistency on the court.
June 20, 2019: Drafted by the New York Knicks
In a major milestone, RJ Barrett's NBA dreams were realized when he was selected as the third overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft by the New York Knicks.
October 23, 2019: NBA Debut
RJ Barrett officially embarked on his NBA journey on October 23, 2019, making his debut in a game against the San Antonio Spurs. Despite the loss, he showcased his potential with a notable performance.
2019: Top Canadian Prospect
As a high school student at St. Marcellinus Secondary School, RJ Barrett's exceptional talent was evident as he earned recognition as the top Canadian prospect in the 2019 class.
2019: Drafted into the NBA
In 2019, RJ Barrett was drafted third overall by the New York Knicks, marking the beginning of his professional basketball journey in the NBA.
2019: Early Recognition as a Top Prospect
In 2019, analyst Elias Sbiet recognized RJ Barrett as an exceptional talent and "cold-blooded killer" on the court, highlighting his potential early in his career.
2019: Debut for the Canadian Senior Team
RJ Barrett made his debut for the Canadian senior basketball team during the qualification rounds for the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
January 16, 2020: Suffers Ankle Sprain
RJ Barrett faced a setback in his rookie season when he suffered a sprained ankle during a game against the Phoenix Suns on January 16, 2020.
December 21, 2020: Knicks Exercise Third-Year Option
Demonstrating their belief in his potential, the New York Knicks exercised their third-year option on RJ Barrett's contract on December 21, 2020, securing his place with the team for another season.
January 6, 2022: Hits Game-Winning Three-Pointer Against Celtics
In a thrilling display of skill and composure, RJ Barrett sank a contested game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer, leading the Knicks to a remarkable comeback victory over the Boston Celtics on January 6, 2022.
May 24, 2022: Barrett Commits to Canada's Senior National Team
On May 24, 2022, RJ Barrett demonstrated his dedication to representing his country by making a three-year commitment to play for Canada's senior men's national basketball team.
September 1, 2022: Barrett Re-signs with the Knicks
On September 1, 2022, RJ Barrett signed a four-year contract extension with the New York Knicks worth $120 million, marking the first multiyear extension agreement between the Knicks and a player coming off their rookie deal since Charlie Ward in 1999.
December 30, 2023: Barrett Traded to the Raptors
On December 30, 2023, RJ Barrett was traded to the Toronto Raptors alongside Immanuel Quickley and a 2024 second-round draft pick in exchange for O.G. Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa, and Malachi Flynn.
2023: Canada Secures 2024 Olympics Berth at FIBA World Cup
In 2023, RJ Barrett played a pivotal role in securing Canada's qualification for the 2024 Summer Olympics by helping his team reach the quarter-finals of the FIBA Basketball World Cup, securing their Olympic berth.
January 1, 2024: Barrett's Debut with the Raptors
On January 1, 2024, RJ Barrett played his first game with the Toronto Raptors, contributing 19 points and 9 rebounds to secure a 124-121 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
January 7, 2024: Barrett Scores Season-High with Raptors
On January 7, 2024, RJ Barrett achieved a season-high score of 37 points, along with 6 rebounds and 6 assists, leading the Raptors to a 133-118 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
March 2024: Passing of RJ Barrett's Brother, Nathan
In March 2024, RJ Barrett experienced the loss of his younger brother, Nathan, who tragically passed away at 19. Nathan, following in his brother's footsteps, had joined the prep basketball team at Montverde Academy after RJ's graduation.
2024: Barrett Helps Canada Win Bronze at FIBA World Cup
In 2024, RJ Barrett led Canada to its first-ever FIBA Basketball World Cup medal, securing bronze after defeating the United States. He excelled alongside teammates Dillon Brooks and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, outscoring his Knicks teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. This victory also marked Canada's first medal in a major global tournament since the 1936 Summer Olympics.