RJ Barrett isn’t rushing to pick a side in the NBA title vs. Olympic gold debate, even after Lu Dort stirred the pot with a strong opinion.
Dort set off the conversation during an interview with Serge Ibaka on How Hungry Are You, when he was asked whether winning an NBA championship or Olympic gold carried more value. The Atlanta Hawks forward, who already won an NBA championship with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2025, said he would take the gold medal.
“I’d say winning a gold medal because Canada gave my family a great opportunity to have a better life,” Dort said.
When Ibaka followed up and asked if gold meant more than an NBA title, Dort said yes.
That prompted Barrett, Dort’s Team Canada teammate, to share his own view when asked about the comment. His first reaction was blunt and honest.
“I haven’t won either,” he said.
Barrett then explained why the answer can look different depending on the jersey. He pointed to the pride that comes with representing Canada, while also acknowledging what it would mean to win with the Toronto Raptors.
RJ Barrett on Lu Dort saying he would rather win an Olympic gold medal over an NBA title, via Serge Ibaka’s ‘How Hungry Are You’:
— Omer Osman (@OmerOsman200) October 7, 2026
“I haven’t won either.”
“I think when it’s your country, it’s a little bit of a different pride, because one, we’re not playing for any money… pic.twitter.com/DjrHiFW3WV
“I think when it’s your country, it’s a little bit of a different pride, because one, we’re not playing for any money anyways. Two is, this is where I’m from.
I love Canada. So, for me, playing for the Raptors, I think winning the chip here, probably, it’ll be different, ‘cause it’s here.”
He closed by stressing the meaning of playing for a nation, no matter the setting.
“In either regard, your country, you’re always going to play for them. That’s just a certain level of pride that you take in doing that, trying to represent your country.
You would do that for no money at all. I think that might be a little different.”
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