Raptors' Barrett Surprised by Trade, Excited for Osmow's Shawarma

The Missisauga-born gaurd is excited to visit his favourite shwarma shop more often but was surprised to be traded to the Toronto Raptors

RJ Barrett’s start with the Toronto Raptors has been nothing short of extraordinary, with the basketball club finally showing some signs of light after a dismal start to the 2023-24 NBA season.

Yet, in a recent interview with ESPN’s Andscape, Barrett revealed he had no idea a trade to his hometown team was on the table until his phone buzzed with a call from his agent, Bill Duffy, on the penultimate day of 2023.

"I had no clue. I just got the call when it happened. I was like, 'What is going on?'" Barrett said to Andscape's Marc J. Spears. "I was so confused. I didn't see it coming. When he told me the Raptors, I was like, 'OK, at least I'm coming home.'"

RJ's first bucket as a Toronto Raptor 🔥 pic.twitter.com/UVXuxKe0tL

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 2, 2024

While the 23-year-old guard made his way north alongside Immanuel Quickley, the Raptors sent fan favorites OG Anunoby, Malachi Flynn, and Precious Achiuwa, to the New York Knicks in the exchange.

However, to say it’s been a positive start for Barrett and Quickley is humble at best, despite Toronto’s controversial 132-131 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.

In his first four games with the Raptors, three of which on the road, Barrett has already set the mark for most points scored in a single game by a Canadian-born Raptor, scoring 37 points in a 133-118 thrashing of the Golden State Warriors, a night where the Raptors also neutralized Steph Curry, who scored just nine points.

RJ Barrett dropped a SEASON-HIGH in the Raptors' win over the Warriors 💪

37 PTS
5 3PM
6 AST
6 REB pic.twitter.com/LHoLxUrdNy

— NBA (@NBA) January 8, 2024

In Tuesday’s defeat, marred by officiating calls falling into the Lakers’ favor, he scored 23 points and picked up 10 rebounds.

While Barrett moved to the United States in high school to further his career with Montverde Academy in Florida, his roots in Toronto and Mississauga were close for him, given how often he would return home and his consistent duties with Canada Basketball.

It all hit when he stepped onto the Scotiabank Arena court for the first time as a Raptor on January 1, still his only home court showing, given the Raptors’ lengthy home schedule.

“It was a lot of fun,” Barrett told the media after his debut, having received a standing ovation. “[The crowd reaction] meant a lot. I’m the hometown kid, and just coming in and trying to get a win for the fans, trying to win for the country, it felt great.

Meanwhile, it’s not only the basketball and the fervorous home fans that mark home for Barett but the small things -- like Osmow’s Shawarma and Tim Horton’s coffee.

“The first thing I wanted to do when I got home was go to Osmow’s. I always get Osmow’s every time I come home,” he told Andscape. “My family is excited for me to come back home and get an opportunity over here. Everybody is excited. Everybody is happy.”

Even with his preferred shawarma and an iconic Toronto restaurant, Barrett’s lift to the Raptors still keeps the playoffs as a lengthy dream, with the club sitting at a 15-21 record following Tuesday’s loss, finding themselves 11th place in the NBA’s Eastern Conference.