Toronto Raptors swingman RJ Barrett appeared to take a swipe at his former team, the New York Knicks, when he praised the culture and chemistry of his current squad during Monday’s media day.
No Egos, All Team Focus
“We don’t have egos over here,” Barrett said. “Everybody wants to win. That’s coming from me, who’s probably one of the most confident guys you’ve ever met in your life. We have players who are here with a good mindset of coming in to help the team win. And it’s not just about any single, individual player.”
Barrett was traded from the Knicks to the Raptors in December 2023 alongside Immanuel Quickley in exchange for OG Anunoby. Since the trade, the Raptors have yet to qualify for the playoffs, while the Knicks continued their rise, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals last season.
Emphasis on Ball Movement
“Passing the ball is a huge thing,” Barrett emphasized. “I’ve been on teams where the ball doesn’t move, and then nothing happens after that. Nobody cares, and everybody’s just every man for themselves. It’s great to be on a team where we move the ball, we play defense, and we care about each other, honestly. We’re all friends. We all hang out. Everything’s cool. The way the Raptors do things is the right way, and I think that’s why we’ll have some success.”
Barrett’s comments came as he reflected on the Raptors’ culture and philosophy after entering a team with high expectations. The Knicks, meanwhile, have improved significantly since Barrett’s departure. During his four full seasons in New York, the Knicks’ teams ranked no better than the bottom four in assists league-wide. Last season, however, the Knicks averaged 27.5 assists per game in their run to the Eastern Conference Finals — good for 11th in the NBA — while the Raptors averaged one assist more per game, ranking seventh.
Building Chemistry and Consistency
Barrett also highlighted the early-season work in practice and training.
“When I walk into this gym and I see the team that we have, I’m like, okay, we have a squad here, and we’re going about it the right way,” Barrett said. “I think that will pay off. Of course, there’s going to be bumps, ups and downs in the season. Even the starting five — we still have not played a game together yet. So there are going to be things. But just the way we go about working out, the weight room, everything — our mindset of playing defense and moving the ball, sharing the ball — when you approach the game that way, good things will happen.”
Knicks Reloaded, Raptors Face Integration Challenge
The Knicks enter the season projected as a top contender in the East, ranked No. 2 behind the Cleveland Cavaliers in NBA.com’s Power Rankings. They have added former Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele, while Malcolm Brogdon is competing for a roster spot, giving New York one of the deepest benches in the league — addressing a key weakness from last season.
Toronto, ranked No. 10, faces questions about how Brandon Ingram will mesh with Barrett and Scottie Barnes, whose integration could determine whether the Raptors can finally end a four-year playoff drought.
RJ Barrett Takes Subtle Shot at Knicks