Toronto Raptors guard RJ Barrett is channeling his competitive fire after watching his former team, the New York Knicks, win the 2026 NBA championship. Barrett admitted to feeling "salty"about the title run but is now determined to replicate that success in Toronto."At first definitely feel a little salty. A little bit in terms of, you know, we lost. We lost in the first round, so that hurt,"Barrett told reporters. His feelings quickly shifted to support for his friends."I'm very happy for them, but just hoping to bring some of that success over here," he stated. This mindset comes as the Raptors analyze a hard-fought first-round exit where they traded wins with Cleveland, including a 112-110 victory on May 1.
The Raptors' major offseason move, reacquiring champion Kawhi Leonard, has Barrett genuinely excited. Leonard, of course, hit the iconic game-winning shot against Philadelphia to send Toronto to the 2019 Finals, a moment Barrett vividly recalls as a fan. "I was getting ready for the draft when the Raptors won the championship. When he made the game-winner against Philly, I was jumping up and down,"Barrett said. Transitioning from a fan to a teammate is a full-circle moment. Barrett believes Leonard's presence elevates the team's ceiling immediately."It's going to be an every day grind. It's not going to be easy, but you can expect for us to play our hardest," he promised fans.
Barrett's comments frame the upcoming season as a mission. The team's recent form-a LWLWW sequence in their last five playoff games-shows both promise and inconsistency. They scored 126 points in a Game 1 win on April 24 but also gave up 125 in a loss on April 29. Integrating a superstar like Leonard will be the central storyline of training camp. His championship pedigree is expected to raise standards across the roster.
For Barrett, it's a chance to be a central figure in a new title chase. His experience watching the Knicks succeed has only sharpened his hunger. The Raptors' playoff run, provided valuable lessons. They'll need to improve defensively after allowing an average of over 110 points per game in that series. The goal is clear: turn the salt of watching others celebrate into the sweet taste of a championship parade in Toronto.
