RJ Barrett, the 24-year-old swingman for the Toronto Raptors, will not play in the upcoming matchup against the New York Knicks due to entering concussion protocol. Barrett's injury occurred during the closing moments of the team's dramatic victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. While attempting to make a layup, Barrett suffered a hard fall and struck his head against the court, prompting immediate medical evaluation.
Initially, Barrett appeared unfazed by the fall. He stayed on the court for the ensuing possession as medical staff checked on him, only to continue playing through the remainder of the game. Following the match, Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic remarked on Barrett's toughness, jokingly referencing the impact of his fall: "Did you see the hole he made [in the court]? He’s got a pretty strong head. He wanted to finish the game. He felt good. He didn’t have any problems." This attitude led to the assumption Barrett was fine. Unfortunately, after reporting some soreness late Monday night, he was formally placed under concussion protocol.
This marks the first time Barrett has dealt with concussion-related issues as he goes through the required steps to be cleared before returning to action. Per Sportsnet's Blake Murphy, Barrett is expected to be sidelined for around four or five days, leaving him unavailable not only for the Knicks game but potentially for the Raptors' following game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Despite his absence, Barrett has had quite an impressive season, averaging 21.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.7 assists—career-highs across all categories. His contributions have been instrumental, particularly as he leads the Raptors in scoring and boasts second place for assists on the team. The Raptors are currently riding high on performance, with their recent record at 8-2 over the last ten games, largely attributed to their solid defensive prowess, now the best rating across the league.
The Raptors will need to fill the void left by Barrett. While Chris Boucher is also out due to illness, the team plans to utilize other players such as Ochai Agbaji, Ja'Kobe Walter, and Bruce Brown—who remains questionable due to facial contusion—to bolster the lineup. Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley are expected to adapt their roles for increased offensive usage without Barrett's scoring presence.
Interestingly, RJ Barrett's situation also impacts the dynamic of the game against the Knicks, providing both teams with more than just personal stakes. Several players from the Knicks’ roster are not reporting injury status before the game and may influence this Atlantic Division rivalry significantly. The Knicks will see the return of some of their key players, complicate strategies on both sides.
The tip-off for the highly anticipated matchup between the Raptors and Knicks is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Fans and analysts alike will keep their eyes on how the Raptors adjust and having overcome their previous struggles, with indications of continued growth this season. Only time will tell how the Raptors will tread the waters of adversity without Barrett, and it remains to be seen how the roster reshuffles will impact the team dynamics and game outcome.