NBA
RB
#9

RJ Barrett

Forward · Toronto Raptors · 6'6", 214 lb · Born Jun 14, 2000 · Toronto, Ontario · Drafted 3rd overall, 2019
🇨🇦 Maple MambaWorld Cup bronze (2023)Scoring wingDuke
NBAToronto RaptorsForwards
Compare:vs Ingramvs Murray-Boylesvs Dickvs Quickleyvs Waltervs Poeltl
In short

RJ Barrett is a Toronto-born scoring wing for the Raptors — a left-handed, downhill slasher drafted 3rd overall in 2019 out of Duke and traded to his hometown team in 2023. A career ~19-point scorer and cornerstone of Canada Basketball (a 2023 World Cup bronze medalist), he is the son of former national-team captain Rowan Barrett and godson of Steve Nash.

Matchup model · next gameMedium confidenceThu, Nov 12
@San Antonio SpursDrop coverage
Proj. points
19.4
range 16.4–22.4
Line 19.5
49%
to go over
Team win
38%
111–114
Poi 19.4 Lean underReb 5.3 Lean underAss 3.3 Lean underPRA 28 Lean under
Likely on himStephon Castle· 74 Perimeter DSolid defender
15+ pts91%20+ pts43%25+ pts4%

Model lines Barrett at 19.4 pts (range 16.4–22.4) vs a 19.5 line — roughly a coin flip to clear it (49%).

Model favors San Antonio Spurs (62%), projected 111–114, ~225 total at 96.5 pace.

Full matchup breakdown · all markets →
Balladex Matchup Model — modeled from real roster ratings, scoring baselines & defender-matchup history. Schedule, availability & head-to-head samples are illustrative in this prototype; production wires live schedule, injury & player-tracking feeds. Not betting advice.
✦ Ask anything about Barrett
The Barrett Story — narrated
Tap play to hear his story, told as a 90-second short.
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A Toronto-born, left-handed scoring wing — downhill slashing for his hometown Raptors.

The No. 1 recruit in his class, Barrett broke Duke's freshman scoring record before the Knicks drafted him 3rd in 2019.

🏫 Duke · 3rd, 2019🇨🇦 Toronto

He grew into a 20-point scorer over four seasons in New York.

20 ppg peakKnicks

In December 2023 he was traded to his hometown Raptors, raising his game.

Traded to TORHomecoming

The 'Maple Mamba' helped Canada win its first-ever World Cup medal in 2023.

🥉 World CupTeam Canada
— end of story —
Want the full numbers? Open the breakdown →
PPG
19.3
2025-26
RPG
5.3
per game
APG
3.3
per game
FG%
.491
.339 from three
LIFE

Roots & the rise

A Toronto-born, left-handed scoring wing — downhill slashing for his hometown Raptors, the 'Maple Mamba.'

RJ Barrett was born in Toronto into a basketball family and was the No. 1 overall recruit in his high-school class before a standout freshman year at Duke, where he broke the freshman scoring record. The Knicks drafted him 3rd in 2019, and he grew into a 20-point scorer over four seasons in New York.

In December 2023 he was traded to his hometown Raptors, where he raised his scoring and playmaking to career highs. A left-handed downhill slasher nicknamed the 'Maple Mamba,' he is a cornerstone of Canada Basketball, having helped the national team win its first-ever World Cup medal (bronze) in 2023.

Sources: Wikipedia, NBA.com, Basketball-Reference, ESPN.

BEYOND THE GAME

Beyond the game

Barrett is Canadian basketball royalty — the son of Rowan Barrett, a former national-team captain and now a Canada Basketball executive, the godson of Hall of Famer Steve Nash, and part of an athletic family that includes an Olympic-medalist sprinter aunt. Fluent in French, he carries the pride of a rising Canadian basketball program.

His on-court identity is aggressive, left-handed downhill scoring — a competitive slasher who gets to the rim at will, has improved his playmaking (a career-high assist rate), and defends willingly. Efficiency has historically been his question, but playing for his hometown team, he has found stability as a building block and a central figure for both the Raptors and Team Canada.

PERSONALITY

The person

An aggressive, left-handed downhill scorer — rim pressure, competitiveness, and playmaking.

Downhill scorerA left-handed slasher who gets to the rim at will.
CompetitorA willing two-way player and 'cold-blooded' scorer.
Canadian starA cornerstone of Canada Basketball's 2023 World Cup bronze.
PLAYER DNA

Archetype & ratings

Archetype
Downhill Slashing Wing
Temperament
Alpha
Leadership
58/100
Scoring72
Playmaking48
Rebounding63
Perimeter D62
Rim protection46
Spacing60
Athleticism70
Clutch68
a downhill slashing wing scorer
ANALYSIS

What the numbers say

Aggressive downhill scoring

Barrett's value is aggressive, left-handed scoring — a downhill slasher who pressures the rim, draws fouls, and has improved his playmaking to a career-high assist rate (around 5 a game). That rim pressure and competitiveness give Toronto a reliable scoring wing and a building block on his hometown team.

Efficiency the question

The historical knock is efficiency — his shooting percentages (career around 45% from the field, 34% from three, 70% from the line) have been modest for a high-volume scorer. But his scoring, improved playmaking, and homegrown fit make him a valuable cornerstone; continued efficiency gains would elevate him toward a more complete two-way star for the Raptors and Canada.

STATS

Season by season

Per game

SeasonGPMINPTSREBASTFG%3P%
2025-265730.319.35.33.3.491.339

Source: Basketball-Reference.

ADVANCED

Advanced & historical

Where he sits in history

2023Helped Canada win its first-ever World Cup medal (bronze)
CollegeBroke Duke's freshman scoring record; No. 1 recruit in his class
2023Traded to his hometown Toronto Raptors

Hardware

3rd
Draft pick (2019)
🥉
World Cup bronze (2023)
OUTLOOK

Where it's headed

AI-generated · updated July 13, 2026

An aggressive hometown scoring wing — downhill scoring and playmaking for the Raptors.

Barrett has found stability as a hometown building block — a left-handed downhill scorer averaging around 19-22 points with career-best playmaking since the trade. His outlook hinges on continued efficiency gains; his role for both the Raptors and a rising Canada Basketball program is central.

Downhill scoringStrong
PlaymakingStrong
CompetitivenessStrong
EfficiencyDeveloping

Contract

Role
Scoring wing building block
Nation
🇨🇦 Canada cornerstone
Age
26 prime
Bottom line

A Toronto-born, left-handed downhill scorer — an aggressive hometown building block and Canada Basketball cornerstone, with efficiency the key to a more complete game.

FAQ

Quick answers

Why is RJ Barrett called the 'Maple Mamba'?

The nickname references his Canadian roots and his aggressive, Kobe Bryant-style scoring mentality.

How did RJ Barrett join the Raptors?

The Knicks drafted him 3rd in 2019, and in December 2023 he was traded to his hometown Toronto Raptors.

What is RJ Barrett's role for Canada?

He's a cornerstone of Canada Basketball, having helped the national team win its first-ever World Cup medal, a bronze, in 2023.