In an unfortunate turn of events, RJ Barrett of the Toronto Raptors suffered a right shoulder injury during the team’s first preseason game against the Washington Wizards. Shortly after the Raptors announced the injury on October 8, they confirmed that Barrett will not participate in any further preseason games. Updates on his recovery are expected after the preseason, leaving uncertainty around his availability for the season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Despite the Raptors’ impressive 125-98 victory over the Wizards, Barrett’s performance was cut short when he sustained the injury late in the second quarter. He had been having a stellar game, scoring 17 points on 7 of 10 shooting in just 14 minutes before heading to the locker room for examination and ultimately not returning.
The Raptors disclosed that Barrett is dealing with a sprain of the acromioclavicular joint in his right shoulder, which is where the collarbone meets the shoulder blade.
At just 24 years old, Barrett hails from Toronto and made a notable return home last season following a trade that brought him from the New York Knicks to the Raptors. Joining him in this transition is Immanuel Quickley, who recently signed a lucrative five-year, $175 million contract with Toronto, further solidifying their duo as key players for the team. However, with Barrett now sidelined, the Raptors will have to adjust their plans before the season even begins.
As Barrett gears up for his sixth NBA season, he played a total of 58 games between the Knicks and Raptors last year, averaging 18.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. Notably, he is also set to represent Canada in basketball at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
