RJ Barrett Bio
Rowan Alexander “RJ” Barrett Jr. is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Selected third overall in the 2019 NBA draft by the New York Knicks, Barrett spent four seasons in New York before being traded to his hometown team in December 2023. He played one year of college basketball with the Duke Blue Devils, where he earned consensus first-team All-American honors and won the Jerry West Award as the top shooting guard in the country. Barrett established himself as one of Canada’s most promising basketball talents after leading the national under-19 team to a gold medal at the 2017 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup, where he earned tournament MVP honors.
Early Life and Background
Barrett was born in Toronto, Ontario, on June 14, 2000, to Kesha Duhaney and former professional basketball player Rowan Barrett. During his early childhood, he lived in France where his father was playing professional basketball for JDA Dijon Basket. While in France, Barrett attended a French school but learned English from his mother. He developed his passion for basketball at a young age, playing with a mini-hoop in his playroom and beginning organized basketball at age six in the youth system of JDA Dijon Basket.
Barrett’s family settled in Mississauga, Ontario, in 2008 when his father retired from professional basketball. As a child, he was involved in multiple sports including football, 100-meter sprinting, and high jump. At age 12, after struggling in a basketball game and coming home in tears, Barrett decided to focus exclusively on basketball. Around this time, he began training with Steve Nash, his godfather and family friend, who had a significant influence on his development. Barrett attended Horizon Jeunesse elementary school in Mississauga, leading his school team to a city title and earning MVP honors despite competing against older opponents.
Path to Professional Basketball
Barrett emerged as one of the best under-12 players in Ontario under the guidance of his father. He played for the Regional Elite Development Academy (REDA) on the AAU circuit, competing against teams from the United States. By age 15, he was identified by the Ontario Basketball Association as one of the best players in his age group and began training with the Canada Basketball junior academy. He attended École Secondaire Jeunes Sans Frontières, a French language school in Brampton, during grades seven and eight.
Barrett began high school at St. Marcellinus Secondary School in Mississauga while competing for the Brampton Warriors AAU team. He quickly made an impact, earning MVP honors at the Guy Vetrie Memorial tournament in February 2015 after scoring 41 points and making a game-winner in a 74-72 victory. In April 2015, he was invited to the ROPSSAA all-star game and recognized as the best prospect in the region.
RJ Barrett Career
High School Career (2014–2018)
In September 2015, Barrett transferred to Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida, a school known for its decorated basketball program. The transition proved challenging initially, but Barrett steadily improved. During his freshman year, he earned MaxPreps Freshman All-American First Team honors after leading Montverde in scoring. As a sophomore during the 2016-17 season, he averaged 22 points and 7 rebounds per game, earning National Sophomore of the Year honors from MaxPreps and making the Naismith All-American Third Team.
During his senior season in 2017-18, Barrett led an undefeated Montverde team to the GEICO National boys basketball championship, recording 25 points and 15 rebounds in the championship game. He was awarded the prestigious Morgan Wooten National Player of the Year award for displaying outstanding character and leadership. Barrett was rated as a five-star recruit and ranked as the number one overall prospect in the class of 2018 by all recruiting services. He became the first player since LeBron James to sweep all major high school awards and win the national championship in the same year.
College Career at Duke (2018–2019)
Barrett committed to play for Duke University on November 10, 2017, choosing the Blue Devils over Arizona, Oregon, Kentucky, and Michigan. He made an immediate impact in his only college season. In his debut on November 6, 2018, he scored 33 points against Kentucky at the Champions Classic, breaking the Duke freshman scoring record for a debut game. He recorded his first triple-double on February 17, 2019, with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists against North Carolina State, becoming only the fourth player in Duke history to record a triple-double.
Barrett appeared in all 38 games, starting every contest, and averaged 22.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. He was named to the All-ACC First Team, ACC All-Freshman Team, and earned consensus first-team All-American honors. He won the Jerry West Award as the nation’s top shooting guard and was named USA Today’s Player of the Year. Following Duke’s exit from the NCAA Tournament, Barrett declared for the 2019 NBA draft after just one season.
New York Knicks Era (2019–2023)
The New York Knicks selected Barrett with the third overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft on June 20, 2019. He officially signed with the team on July 3 and made his NBA debut on October 23, 2019, scoring 21 points in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs. During his rookie season, Barrett averaged 14.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game while appearing in 56 games. He finished second in Rookie of the Year voting and was controversially omitted from the NBA All-Rookie Team.
Barrett showed significant improvement in his second season, increasing his scoring average to 17.6 points per game while shooting 40.1 percent from three-point range. The Knicks made the playoffs for the first time in eight years, with Barrett starting all 72 games. During the 2021-22 season, Barrett emerged as a primary scoring option, scoring a career-high 46 points against the Miami Heat on February 25, 2022. He became the youngest Knicks player to average 20 points per game for a season at just 21 years old.
On September 1, 2022, Barrett re-signed with the Knicks on a four-year, $120 million contract extension, becoming the first player since Charlie Ward in 1999 to agree to a multiyear extension after a rookie deal with the Knicks.
Toronto Raptors Era (2023–Present)
On December 30, 2023, the Knicks traded Barrett to the Toronto Raptors in a multi-player deal. Playing for his hometown team, Barrett debuted on January 1, 2024, recording 19 points and nine rebounds in a victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. He scored a season-high 37 points on January 7, 2024, against the Golden State Warriors. Barrett continued his strong play throughout the season, recording his first career triple-double on November 16, 2024, with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and a career-high 15 assists against the Boston Celtics.
Playing Style and Strengths
Barrett plays primarily as a shooting guard and small forward, standing 6 feet 6 inches tall. Known for his scoring ability and competitive drive, he has drawn comparisons to NBA legend Kobe Bryant, earning the nickname “Maple Mamba.” Barrett is capable of scoring from all three levels, showing proficiency in driving to the basket, mid-range shooting, and three-point shooting. His basketball IQ and playmaking skills allow him to facilitate for teammates while maintaining his scoring output.
Notable Events and Milestones
Barrett’s career has been marked by several significant milestones. His 46-point performance against Miami in February 2022 stands as his career high. He became the eighth NBA player to record 2,000 points, 500 rebounds, and 300 assists before turning 22 years old, joining an elite list that includes Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant. On May 1, 2026, Barrett hit a dramatic rim-bounce game-winning three-pointer with 1.2 seconds left in overtime of Game 6 against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, forcing a decisive Game 7.
RJ Barrett Career Highlights
Barrett has accumulated notable achievements across international and professional competition. His international career includes a gold medal as MVP of the 2017 FIBA Under-19 World Cup and a bronze medal with Canada’s senior team at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. At the professional level, he has been named an NBA Rising Star twice and set franchise records with the Knicks.
NBA Highlights
Throughout his NBA career, Barrett has demonstrated consistent improvement year over year. He has recorded multiple 30-point games and set career highs across scoring, rebounding, and assists categories. His career-high 46 points came during the 2021-22 season with the Knicks. In his first season with the Raptors, he achieved his first career triple-double and continues to build on his statistical achievements with his hometown team.
International Highlights
Barrett has represented Canada at multiple age levels. He led the under-19 team to gold in 2017, earning MVP honors after scoring 38 points against the United States in the semifinal. At the 2023 FIBA World Cup, he helped Canada win their first-ever World Cup medal, defeating the United States in the bronze medal game with 23 points. He was named to Canada’s roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
RJ Barrett Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Barrett comes from a basketball family. His father, Rowan Barrett, played college basketball for St. John’s University before a professional career in Europe and South America. Rowan Sr. was a long-time member of the Canadian national team, captained the squad at the 2000 Summer Olympics, and later became executive vice president and general manager of Canada Basketball. Barrett’s mother, Kesha Duhaney, was a nationally ranked sprinter and long jumper for St. John’s University and later worked in banking. His maternal aunt, Dahlia Duhaney, won gold with Jamaica’s 4×100 meter relay team at the 1991 IAAF World Championships.
Personal Life
Barrett is the godson of Steve Nash, a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and former NBA MVP. Nash and Barrett’s father became close friends while playing together on Canada’s under-19 national team, and Nash has been a mentor throughout Barrett’s life, even buying him his first crib when he was a baby. Barrett is fluent in French, having attended school in France during his early childhood. He has a younger brother named Nathan who also plays basketball and attended Montverde Academy. Barrett resides in Toronto during the NBA season.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 NBA season marked Barrett’s second full season with the Toronto Raptors following the mid-season trade in December 2023. As a native Canadian playing for his hometown team, Barrett embraced the increased expectations and leadership responsibilities that came with the change. He continued to develop his all-around game, showing improved playmaking ability and consistency throughout the season.
Barrett’s offensive repertoire expanded as he became more comfortable in the Raptors’ system. His ability to score in multiple ways made him a reliable second option behind franchise cornerstone. The young Raptors roster featured several players Barrett had competed against internationally, creating a cohesive team dynamic that translated to on-court success.
Internationally, Barrett remained a key contributor for the Canadian national team. Following the historic bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, expectations for Canada’s senior team continued to rise. Barrett’s experience from his youth national team appearances through his senior team contributions positioned him as a cornerstone of Canada’s basketball future. His development into a complete two-way player has made him essential to both the Raptors’ plans and Canada’s Olympic ambitions.