RJ Barrett, the 23-year-old shooting guard, experienced a poignant return to New York, marking his first appearance in the city since being traded to the Toronto Raptors on December 30.
Having spent his initial five and a half years in the league with the Knicks, Barrett’s return stirred emotions as he received a heartfelt welcome from the crowd and a tribute video.
Following the game, Barrett expressed his gratitude, stating, “It was amazing. Thank you to the fans for sure. We got a tribute video, so I didn’t think we were going to get that. But that was cool. I’m very appreciative, appreciative of my time here, and to come back had a lot of emotions for sure. But it was fun to play basketball here again.”
Despite Barrett’s standout performance, contributing 20 points, eight rebounds, and four assists for the Raptors, his team faced a dominant Knicks squad, ultimately falling short with a 100-126 loss.
