Knicks Ex RJ Barrett Laughs Off 'Bland' Carmelo Criticism

Upon returning to Madison Square Garden on Saturday, Toronto Raptors star RJ Barrett humorously addressed criticism from fellow former New York Knick Carmelo Anthony.

Toronto Raptors star RJ Barrett handled some Jurassic snark from Carmelo Anthony in stride.

Barrett, the former homegrown franchise face of the New York Knicks, returned to Madison Square Garden on Saturday when Toronto visited Manhattan for an Atlantic Division tilt. The Knicks took down Toronto 126-100 behind 38 points from Jalen Brunson and a triple-double for Julius Randle. 

Saturday's game set up Barrett's first time on MSG hardwood since a Dec. 30 trade sent him and Immanuel Quickley up north in exchange for a three-player package headlined by OG Anunoby. That deal ended Barrett's metropolitan tenure after four-plus seasons, a term that began when the Knicks made him the third choice in the 2019 draft.

Brad Penner, USA TODAY SPORTS

Former Knicks star Carmelo Anthony was among those glad to see Barrett go, calling the current Raptor a "bland player" on his podcast "7PM in Brooklyn."

"He’s just a bland player," Anthony said. "That’s not a shot. That’s not disrespect. I ask a lot of people who are Knicks fans to see what they say, it’s just like, ‘He’s good, he gets it done sometimes, but he’s not an exciting player.’ You don’t know if he’s going to get four (points) or 26.”

Barrett had a chance to respond to Anthony's barb in the aftermath of Saturday's game and took things in stride, having indirectly fulfilled his fellow former Knick's prophecy in his first games immediately after the episode aired.

“I think it was funny, because the next day I had four points." Barrett said, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post, "The game before I had 24, so he was almost right ... He’s a Hall of Famer, man.”

Barrett Breaks Silence on 'Bittersweet' Knicks Tenure

Barrett had one of his better games on Saturday, leading the Raptors with 20 points in defeat. That outscored Anunoby's 14 but the latter put up another solid defensive effort with seven rebounds and three blocks. New York (26-17) has won nine of 11 since the trade and has allowed 100 points or less in seven of those games.

Though the Knicks have taken undeniable steps forward since removing Barrett from their lineup, he has seemed to have found a place in Toronto: the fifth-year man and Ontario native is averaging 20.2 points on over 54 percent shooting from the field in his first 11 showings as a Raptor. Carrying a four-year, $107 million from New York with him, Barrett figures to play a major role in Toronto's future as the team continues to prune off members of its 2019 championship group for assets.

Barrett and the Raptors welcome the Knicks to Scotiabank Arena on March 27. In the meantime, New York returns to action Tuesday it faces the Brooklyn Nets (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT).