TORONTO — RJ Barrett doesn't believe there will be a video tribute Saturday, just because he remembers it from the more than four years he called MSG home, but the current players Because that won't happen.
“Nobody can understand it,” he said.
Maybe that was true during Barrett's time with the Knicks, but it's more about the lack of worthy candidates than policy.
There is no player left in the NBA more deserving of the video montage treatment than Barrett. It may be Kristaps Porzingis, but there's another reason why the Latvian player isn't celebrated in the Garden, which doesn't apply to Barrett.
Barrett, who returned to MSG with his new Toronto team on Saturday, was polarizing by the end of his Knicks tenure for basketball reasons, but there was little controversy.
He never said the wrong thing about his teammates, coaches or fans.
He became the franchise's highest draft pick since Patrick Ewing.
He is the first Knicks first-round pick to sign an extension since Charlie Ward.
He was the second-best player on a team that ended an eight-year playoff drought and the third-best player on a team that won its first postseason series in 10 years.
Asked on Wednesday night what his favorite memory was with the Knicks, Barrett first went the predictable route with a buzzer-beater win against the Celtics in 2022.
But he quickly pivoted to Game 1 of the 2021 playoff series against the Hawks, which saw the Garden host a full house for the first time during the pandemic season.
“My favorite moment was coming out of the tunnel to a sold-out crowd in the first playoff game after being without fans all year,” Barrett said. “That was insane. That was my favorite moment. And the most memorable moment was hitting the winning run against the Celtics at the Garden. And, of course, (in the playoffs) That dunk (on Atlanta's Bogdan Bogdanovic) was also one of my favorite moments.”
In his second and third seasons, it looked like Barrett could do no wrong.
He was promoted and memorably referred to as “the future face of the Knicks” by Jimmy Butler.
But the tide turned a bit when the front office dangled Barrett in trade talks for Donovan Mitchell in 2022.
When news broke that Mitchell would be headed to the Cavs instead, the Knicks simultaneously — and transparently — announced a four-year, $107 million extension with Barrett.
He explained Wednesday why there were no hard feelings.
“What do you think I was thinking? S–t, I got a payday. That's what I was thinking,” Barrett said. “I was happy.”
The contract also meant pressure and scrutiny.
Barrett's improvement has plateaued, and the distance between him and Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson has grown even more.
There were two stars and Barrett was the third choice.
The trio also became increasingly misfits as ball-dominant left-handed players.
It's too redundant and doesn't have enough space to operate.
On December 30, Barrett learned he had been traded while on his way to a massage at the team hotel in Indianapolis, where the Knicks were preparing to play the Pacers.
His agent, Bill Duffy, broke the news over the phone.
“For a little while, we thought we were a three-headed monster (with Randle and Brunson),” Barrett said. “And obviously over time, they made a deal and it worked out for them. So I'm happy for them.”
So far, the deal has worked out well for both parties.
Barrett averaged 19.9 points, shot 57 percent from the field and grabbed 7.1 rebounds through eight games with his new team, ending Wednesday's game against the Heat.
His efficiency and productivity have increased significantly.
Meanwhile, OG Anunoby helped the Knicks to seven wins in their first nine games with his high-level defense and spacing the floor.
Barrett admitted he can't stand in the offensive corner like Anunoby.
“That's not me,” Barrett said. “It's fun to move around and play freely. That's why I enjoy the style of play here (Toronto).”
For Barrett, the move to Toronto was a homecoming, and as expected, the first month was a love fest between Toronto and its fan base.
It started similarly in New York after Barrett was selected No. 3 overall, but Barrett now doesn't know how the crowd will react to his presence at Saturday's Raptors-Knicks showdown.
Or if he'll ever get his hands on that elusive tribute video.
“I love the fans. I don't know what they're going to do. But I love the fans,” he said. “I'm grateful that they're rooting for me. I'm grateful that they're doing me a favor. It was all about love in New York. I really, really had fun from the bottom of my heart.”
“Everyone gets a little frustrated,” Barrett added about dealing with negativity from fans. “But for me, I always remembered who I was. I had my parents in my ear. My family was in my ear. And I kept working. I One thing to know about Knicks fans is that they want to win. They want to win as much as the players, if not more. It was a big deal for me to understand that.”
