Rowan Alexander “RJ” Barrett Jr. was born on June 14, 2000, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Son of Rowan Barrett, a former professional basketball player and former general manager of the Canadian national team, and Kesha Duhaney, a prominent sprinter. His life has been linked to basketball since an early age, being, inclusive, the godson of NBA legend Steve Nash. Barrett demonstrated early talent in basketball. His family lived in France and Germany during his father’s professional career before settling in Mississauga, Ontario. He attended St. Marcellinus Secondary School in Mississauga before transferring, at age 15, to Montverde Academy in Florida, one of the most prestigious preparatory schools in the United States. In high school basketball, he stood out as one of the greatest prospects in his class. In 2018, Barrett led Montverde to an undefeated 35-0 season and the national high school basketball championship. He was widely recognized as the number one player in the class of 2018 and won the prestigious Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award and the Gatorade National Player of the Year. University Career at Duke After high school, Barrett entered Duke University, where he played alongside other great prospects, including Zion Williamson and Cam Reddish. In his only collegiate season (2018-2019), Barrett made an immediate impact, setting scoring records for a Duke freshman, surpassing even Zion Williamson’s mark, who suffered an injury. He finished the season with impressive averages of 22.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. Barrett was named to the First Team All-American and won the ACC Tournament MVP award. After a stellar season, Barrett declared for the 2019 NBA Draft. Professional Career in the NBA RJ Barrett was selected by the New York Knicks as the third overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, beginning his professional journey in the famous Madison Square Garden arena. In his rookie season (2019-2020), he showed glimpses of his potential as a playmaker and scorer, finishing the season with double-digit averages in points and being named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Over the years with the Knicks, Barrett continued his evolution, solidifying himself as one of the team’s offensive pillars. He became a consistent threat on offense and demonstrated the ability to act as the primary scorer in crucial moments. In September 2022, he signed a multi-million dollar contract extension with the New York Knicks, becoming the youngest player in franchise history to sign a fully guaranteed extension. In January 2024, Barrett was involved in a major trade that sent him to the Toronto Raptors, marking his return to his hometown in Canada. The move brought new momentum to his career and positioned him as a central piece in the Canadian franchise’s reconstruction. National Team Career Barrett has a long history representing Canada in international competitions. He was a leader on youth teams, reaching the pinnacle by leading the Canadian National Team to a gold medal at the FIBA U19 World Cup in 2017. In that tournament, he was named the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the tournament, after a historic performance. Personal Life RJ Barrett comes from a family with strong ties to athletics. His father, Rowan Barrett, was a significant influence, not only as a former player but also as a basketball executive. His godmother is the Canadian and American basketball icon, Steve Nash. Barrett is known for being reserved and focused. He attended Duke and began his NBA career under intense media attention but maintained a reputation as a dedicated professional, focused on refining his game and reaching his full potential.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":48164,"template":"","categories":[1],"class_list":["post-48163","nba-player","type-nba-player","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n