Raptors guard RJ Barrett scored a season-high 31 points and achieved an impressive feat during Sunday’s game against the Mavericks.
Toronto Raptors forward RJ Barrett reached a significant milestone on Sunday, becoming the first player from the 2019 NBA Draft class to surpass 8,000 career points during the Raptors’ 122-92 win over the Dallas Mavericks. The achievement came in a memorable outing for the Canadian star, who also delivered his best scoring performance of the season in the same game.
Barrett erupted for 31 points, leading Toronto offensively while adding six rebounds and three assists in a strong all-around performance. The milestone cemented Barrett’s place as the most productive scorer from his draft class. It also placed him among a small group of Canadian players to reach the 8,000-point mark in league history, joining the likes of NBA legend Steve Nash, Miami Heat’s Andrew Wiggins and reigning league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Several notable members of the 2019 draft class have also produced strong scoring totals in their careers but still trail Barrett (8,018) in overall points. Los Angeles Clippers guard Darius Garland has accumulated 7,716 career points, while Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant has recorded around 7,331 points.
RJ Barrett’s NBA Journey: From Knicks Prospect to Raptors Cornerstone
Barrett entered the league with significant expectations after the New York Knicks selected him third overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, behind Zion Williamson and Morant.
The Duke standout immediately stepped into a major role in New York, averaging 14.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists as a rookie while playing 56 games. Over the following seasons, Barrett steadily improved, eventually emerging as one of the Knicks’ primary scoring options before being traded to the Toronto Raptors in the middle of the 2023-24 campaign.
Since returning to Canada, Barrett has become one of Toronto’s most reliable offensive players, averaging 20.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 129 games for the Raptors.
Barrett’s 2025-26 season has not been without challenges. The 25-year-old has dealt with multiple injuries that limited his availability at different points during the year and forced him to miss 24 games.
Despite those setbacks, Barrett has remained productive whenever he has been on the court. This season, he is averaging 18.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, and continues to serve as a key scoring option for Toronto’s offense alongside Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley.
The Raptors (36-27) currently sit fifth in the Eastern Conference and will travel to face the Houston Rockets on Tuesday.