FIBA World Cup: Knicks' RJ Barrett Blocks Brunson, Hart
RJ Barrett is taking blocking beyond the FIBA Basketball World Cup hardwood: the the New York Knicks forward, repping Canada in the ongoing competition in Asia, said that he hasn't spoken with his NBA teammates that are playing for other countries.
The Knicks are well-represented in the World Cup, including this weekend's semifinals. Barrett and Team Canada will face Serbia in Manila on Friday (4:45 a.m. ET, ESPN+) before Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and the United States' team take on Germany in a championship game bid of their own (8:40 a.m. ET, ESPN2).
Barrett, however, hasn't spoken to Brunson or Hart since the competition has come together in Manila after Team Canada opened preliminary play in Jakarta. The 23-year-old's communications shutdown also extended to fellow New Yorker Evan Fournier of eliminated France, though he temporarily lifted the Knicks-based shun for a special occasion.
"(I spoke to them) during the year, whether it was talking smack to Evan Fournier because he was playing with France and talking smack with Jalen and Josh during the year," Barrett said (h/t New York Basketball on X). "But (I) haven't spoken to them during this tournament other than wishing Jalen happy birthday."
Barrett, who was born and raised in Ontario, has averaged 14.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists over six games for for Team Canada, which is guaranteed its best-ever World Cup finish no matter what transpires this weekend. He notably put in 24 points in Canada's 100-89 quarterfinal victory over Slovenia on Wednesday, setting up Friday's showdown with the Serbians.
The Duke alum is about to enter his fifth season as a Knick, his first on a nine-figure contract extension granted last summer. Across his first four years, he has averaged 18.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists on 51.7 percent true shooting.
