RJ Barrett’s 2024-25 season is off to an unfortunate start.
The Toronto Raptors announced Tuesday that Barrett will be out for the remainder of the pre-season with a sprain to the right acromioclavicular joint in his shoulder.
Barrett suffered the injury toward the end of the second quarter of the Raptors’ 125-98 pre-season victory over the Washington Wizards on Sunday in Montreal. Barrett appeared to suffer the injury while trying to fight through a screen set by Wizards centre and former Raptor Jonas Valanciunas.
The Mississauga, Ont., native was putting together an impressive performance before the injury as he left with a game-high 17 points on 3-of-4 shooting from distance to go with two assists and two rebounds in 14 minutes of action.
The Raptors acquired Barrett and guard Immanuel Quickley from the New York Knicks in the blockbuster OG Anunoby trade last December.
In a 32-game sample with Toronto, the six-foot-six, 214-pound wing averaged career highs of 21.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists.
His efficiency also spiked. Barrett shot 55.3 per cent from the floor — more than 10 per cent higher than his career average — and 39.2 per cent from three-point range.
At this summer’s Olympics in Paris, Barrett averaged 19.8 points, Canada’s second-highest scorer behind NBA MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (21.0). Barrett was also third on the team in rebounds (3.8) and assists (3.5).
The Raptors’ last pre-season game is on Oct. 18. They open the regular season on Oct. 23 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
— With files from the Canadian Press