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Knicks fans will get chance to watch RJ Barrett play before start of 2022-23 season

ByJordanna Clark|
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 12: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) RJ Barrett #9 of the New York Knicks in action against the Dallas Mavericks at Madison Square Garden on January 12, 2022 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Mavericks 108-85. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 12: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) RJ Barrett #9 of the New York Knicks in action against the Dallas Mavericks at Madison Square Garden on January 12, 2022 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Mavericks 108-85. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

New York Knicks fans, you don’t have to wait until October to get to see RJ Barrett on the basketball court again. The last game that he appeared in was on Apr. 8 in Washington, D.C., but this summer he’s going to play for Canada in the World Cup.

The good news isn’t just that fans will get to watch Barrett play in July, but that his knee feels good enough for him to play. He injured it in the first half of the contest against the Wizards, which turned out to be his final game of the 2021-22 season.

In Barrett’s third year in the NBA, he averaged 20 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3 assists. He shot 40.8% from the field and 34.2% from the 3-point line. One of the main flaws of his game is his efficiency and now that he’s emerged as the leader of the Knicks, that’s going to be something that needs to improve next season.

And he’ll get an opportunity to work on his game alongside 13 other players who have committed to represent Canada this summer. Oh, and he’ll be coached by Toronto Raptors’ own Nick Nurse, who lead the Raptors to a fifth-place finish (48-34) in the Eastern Conference this past year.

Knicks star RJ Barrett will play for Team Canada at World Cup in Ontario

It’ll also be a chance for Barrett to get to spend some extra time with his father, Rowan Barrett, who’s the general manager for Team Canada.

The World Cup is even more important to Canada because the team didn’t make it to the Olympics last year in Tokyo after being upset by Czech Republic in the qualifying finals with a 103-101 loss in overtime (subscription required), but it should be noted that the team was without Jamal Murray and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Barrett led Team Canada with 23 points.

Now’s the time for Team Canada to come together (with both Murray and Gilgeous-Alexander) and get on the right path to prepare for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. As noted above, all of the players on the team must be committed to playing in Paris.

Best of luck to Barrett and Team Canada this summer. There’ll be some rowdy Knicks fans cheering you on when July 1 rolls around! And simultaneously monitoring what’s going on in NBA free agency, of course.

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