The Toronto Raptors have made it very difficult for the rest of the league to not take notice, after exceeding expectations to start the season. There has been no shortage of meaningful contributions up and down the lineup. Whether it’s the injection on offense via Brandon Ingram, the contestant shooting from Immanuel Quickley, or the gaps bridged by Scottie Barnes, this Raptors squad has seen an uptick in efficiency that can even be traced back to the end of last season.
But when bringing up meaningful contributions, you have to include RJ Barrett in the conversation. Through 17 games this season, Barrett has posted averages of 19.4 PPG and 3.8 APG as the third —sometimes fourth option on offense.
He's been out the last couple of games with a right knee sprain, and he still isn’t practicing in on-court activities. The Raptors sure could use his help on offense, as they have dropped two of their last three outings, seeming somewhat flat with their Pts/Poss and eFG% taking a hit after snapping their nine-game win streak.
What has really stood out from Barrett’s play has been his efficiency, which has seen a significant jump from last year. According to Cleaning The Glass, Barrett is shooting 52% from mid-range, which puts him in the top 15 amongst wings in the NBA. He also pairs that with a 17.7 AST% that also puts him in the top 15.
Stats aside, Barrett’s impact spans far beyond his contributions on the court. We’ve seen him take on a leadership role with the younger players, who are quickly forming a Bench Mob 2.0 of sorts. Barrett's basketball maturity has led to him becoming both an on-court and off-court leader, which also affirms his status as a pillar on this Raptors squad, despite endless trade speculation.
Peel back another layer, and you can see the impact that Barrett has had on basketball across the nation.
RJ Barrett's contributions to basketball are a national affair, far beyond the Raptors
As I sat and observed Canada’s Men's National Basketball team notch their second-straight win against the Bahamas in the FIBA Qualifiers on December 1, the RJ effect along with the basketball talent out of the GTA was on full display. From the kids rocking the number nine jerseys to the fans cheering on Canada’s team, there was a sense of pride that came over me. Even before Barrett, all the hard work and perseverance from the players shone through.
After the game, I had a chance to catch up with Marcus Carr, starting point guard for Canada, and ask him about the impact players like RJ Barrett have had on his career.
"With a lot of those guys [Barrett] you got to see that kind of up close and personal firsthand…either playing with them or just being around. It's definitely cool to see those guys' journeys – especially the older guys who paved the way for us to have our own journeys and have success as well. It's great to see him doing things on his stage and you know they've helped us a lot as well."Marcus Carr, Team Canada
There’s also the relationship between RJ Barrett and Raptors’ two-way player AJ Lawson, who are both from Peel Region, Mississauga and Brampton, respectfully. Now teammates, the ripple effect from RJ to AJ has now trickled down to the current Canada squad.
I asked forward David Muenkat to elaborate on what the impact from those two players have meant to him and his basketball journey.
"I mean AJ Lawson is a good friend of mine so to be able to watch somebody you grew up with do things at a high level — it's a blessing. To know that someone is coming from the same city as you and making something of themselves is an inspiration not only to me but to the younger generation as well. You don't always have to be from the big cities or where the hubs are, you can make it from anywhere. It’s just motivation for all the young guys — doesn't matter where you come from, keep your head up, work hard and you can do whatever you want to do."David Muenkat, Team Canada
Perhaps the Raptors could consider calling up AJ Lawson from the G League to see what he can contribute while RJ Barrett is sidelined.