RJ Barrett arrived in New York as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 draft and left late last month after 4¹/₂ seasons in which he helped the Knicks grow from a 17-win team to a team that won the playoff round last spring. For the first time in 10 years.
The Toronto native, who was traded to the Raptors along with Immanuel Quickley in the trade that brought OG Anunoby to New York, is proud of his time with the Knicks.
“I helped build something in New York,” Barrett said. told Andscape.com In an article published Tuesday. “When I got there, we weren't good. We're a lot better than when we started. It's bittersweet for sure, but I'm happy for the guys over there. They did what they did. I am happy with the transaction and I wish them all the best.
“I grew up in New York as a player and as a person. I'll never forget those four and a half years.”
Barrett averaged 18.1 points per game during parts of five seasons with the Knicks, but averaged 21.0 points per game in his first four games with the Raptors.
The rebuilding Blazers enter Tuesday's game against MSG with a 10-25 record, but Tom Thibodeau seems to like the play of rookie point guard Scoot Henderson.
The No. 2 overall draft pick averaged 14.0 points and 6.2 assists over the past 10 games.
“Very impressive. Probably the second time on some teams, you can see he's starting to get used to it, but the last five or six games he's been playing at a really high level for them,” Thibodeau said. . “He's young and explosive and he seems to be getting a good feel right now. He's a really impressive young player.”
