5 Up-and-coming NBA stars poised to make a big splash in 2024-2025 

2) RJ Barrett

RJ Barrett is a prime example of a player who was in dire need of a change of scenery. After spending nearly 5 years with the New York Knicks, both parties recognized that it was time for the two to part ways.

Barrett was part of a trade with the Toronto Raptors, which ended up landing the Knicks OG Anunoby. Anunoby fit like a glove with the Knicks, as did Barrett with the Raptors. In fact, there are some statistics to prove that Barrett was not only thriving but also becoming one of their key pieces for the future. 

On the Knicks, Barrett was sitting at 18.2 points per game. He also shot 42.3% from the field and 33.1% from the three. His shooting efficiency is especially important because that is what took the biggest leap in his 32 games with Toronto. It skyrocketed to a shocking 55.3% from the field and 39.2% from downtown.

Another thing I want to note is the slight increase in assists and rebounds per game. Barret went from 2.4 assists per game to 4.1 and 4.3 rebounds per game to 6.4. On the Raptors, Barrett has a terrific opportunity to start fresh, unlocking the player he was meant to be since he was drafted in 2019.