‘It’s inspiring. You saw the whole country get behind it.’<\/p>\n
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Published Mar 28, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 2 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n RJ Barrett hung on every pitch during the surprising Toronto Blue Jays run to Game 7 of the World Series. The Mississauga product is a fan of the club and enjoyed the ride, like most Canadians. But he viewed it from a different perspective than most, picturing himself and his Raptors teammates going on their own playoff journey.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cA couple of months from now, that\u2019s going to be us. That\u2019s the mindset,\u201d Barrett had said back at Raptors media day in the fall.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cObviously happy for them, cheering for them for sure. We\u2019re all about winning over here.\u201d<\/p>\n Cusp of NBA dream<\/p>\n Now, many months later, the Blue Jays are back<\/a> and Barrett is on the cusp of living one of his NBA dreams, experiencing the playoffs as a member of a team he grew up watching.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s inspiring. You saw the whole country get behind it, man,\u201d Barrett told the Toronto Sun of watching the Jays\u2019 journey. \u201cIt was amazing. Hopefully this year they go all the way.\u201d<\/p>\n Some had thought Barrett was too optimistic when he\u2019d predicted this Raptors team would also do well this season. After all, they were coming off two dismal campaigns and hadn\u2019t been close to the post-season since acquiring Barrett and Quickley from the New York Knicks. But with only nine regular season games to go, the Raptors should qualify (at worst they\u2019d get a chance in the play-in to get to the playoffs).<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u2018We\u2019re fighting so hard\u2019<\/p>\n And Barrett said he wants to know what it will feel like. \u201cAbsolutely. That\u2019s why we\u2019re fighting so hard, got to continue to do our job to make sure that we can get there,\u201d he said after Friday\u2019s win over New Orleans.<\/p>\n Barrett doesn\u2019t have extensive playoff experience. He made the post-season in his second year with the Knicks (a quick five game exit) and again a couple of years later when the team dispatched Cleveland in five before falling to eventual league finalist Miami in six. He\u2019s happy Toronto controls its own destiny down the stretch, sitting in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, ahead of the other playoff and play-in challengers.<\/p>\n \u201cI kind of like it, because if you go handle your job, then you don\u2019t got to worry,\u201d Barrett told the Sun of the final stretch, which includes two games against Miami (10th place) and one Sunday against Orlando (ninth).<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Raptors gain some revenge with blowout win over punchless Pelicans<\/p>\n![\"Raptors'](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/RJ-Barrett-March27.jpg\")
Raptors’ RJ Barrett scores against the Pelicans during first half NBA action in Toronto, Friday, March 27, 2026. Photo by Chris Young \/THE CANADIAN PRESSArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.8.4\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tsun.svg\"){kind=logo}
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