RJ Barrett
A Canadian phenom who carried a nation's basketball hopes from teenage prodigy to NBA cornerstone with unflappable poise.
Born 2000 (age 26)·Canadian basketball player·Birthday: June 14·Generation Z
Biography
RJ Barrett led Canada to a gold medal at the 2017 FIBA Under-19 World Cup, earning MVP honors and consensus number-one high school player status in America. His single season at Duke, playing alongside Zion Williamson, was a global spectacle, securing his top-three draft position. Picked by the New York Knicks, he weathered the glare of Madison Square Garden, evolving from a raw slasher into a three-level scorer and a durable ironman. His trade to the Toronto Raptors in 2024 brought him home, placing the burden of leading Canada's most famous franchise on his shoulders. Barrett's game is defined by relentless, workmanlike progression.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
RJ was born in 2000, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When RJ Was Born
The biggest hits of 2000
#1 Movie
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Best Picture
Gladiator
#1 TV Show
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
RJ's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2000Born
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2005Started school
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2013Became a teenager
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2016Could drive
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2018Could vote
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2021Turned 21
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 26 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Led Canada to its first-ever gold medal at the 2017 FIBA Under-19 World Cup, earning tournament MVP honors.
- Was selected 3rd overall by the New York Knicks in the 2019 NBA Draft.
- Averaged over 20 points per game for the 2022-23 NBA season with the New York Knicks.
- Became the third-youngest player in NBA history to reach 5,000 career points in 2023.
Did You Know?
His father, Rowan Barrett Sr., is a former professional basketball player and the current General Manager of the Canadian men's national team.
He holds dual citizenship in Canada and the United States.
He was the first Canadian-born player to be selected in the top three of the NBA draft since Anthony Bennett in 2013.
In high school, he played for Montverde Academy in Florida, a national basketball powerhouse.
“I just want to be the best. I want to be one of the best players to ever play.”
