Arena: Can RJ Barret Be A Star?
SLAM
Ever since Carmelo Anthony left New York the Knicks have been looking for a star to fill his void. Kristaps Porzingis was supposed to be the next face of the franchise but was traded to the Dallas Mavericks after internal conflict with the organization. A duo of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving playing in Madison Square Garden was rumored to be a possibility during the 2019 season. While the two All-NBA performers did land in the city that never sleeps they play their games at the Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets. Knicks fans hoped that their next savior might be the consensus #1 pick, Zion Williamson, but those dreams were foiled as well after New York received the third pick in the draft, two spots too late. However the Knicks did find themselves in a position to draft Williamson’s teammate at Duke. A 6’7” wing that showed All-Star, even All-NBA potential, over the course of a spectacular freshman season. In the 2019 draft the Knicks selected RJ Barrett to be their future star.
Through two seasons in the NBA Barrett has had a good start to his career. In his rookie year he averaged 14 points with 5 rebounds a game while shooting 40% from the field. He displayed moments of great athleticism, basketball IQ, and defensive prowess. At All-Star Weekend he was recognized for his skills by being selected to participate in the Rising Stars game with other talented young players. In his second season Barrett made massive improvements to his three point shot, raising his average from 30% to 40% from deep. He was also able to increase his scoring average to 17 points and had 33 games where he put up 20+ points. Despite having solid numbers across the board, RJ has been held back.
How does a player become great? Are they the hardest worker in the room? Do they come up clutch in big moments? Is it something intangible that can’t be measured? Well there’s no definite answer. A player’s effort of course is factored in but, there are so many variables that must be accounted for when trying to determine whether or not a player will succeed. Elements like coaching, the quality of the organization, how they fit into the team, all contribute to how a young player will turn out. In the case of RJ Barrett, he hasn’t been put in a position to realize his full potential.
Has RJ Barrett had moderate success in his young NBA career? Yes. The worst case scenario for Barrett as an NBA player is what we are seeing right now, playing without the ball as an above average wing. Those kinds of players provide value to every team in the league, they usually end up playing for more than a decade, and they can make massive amounts of money. Mikal Bridges of the Phoenix Suns signed a contract extension worth $90 million this past offseason for being this archetypal player. But Barrett showed more promise in his single season at Duke than Bridges did in three years at Villanova. Leading up to the 2019 draft, scouts compared him to Khris Middleton, DeMar DeRozen, and Jimmy Butler. The 6’7” guard showed All-Star potential in college but hasn’t been able to display it much at the pro level.
What made Barrett the #1 high school player in his class and a top five prospect entering the draft was that he had the ball in his hands. While at Duke he was the secondary ball-handler in the half court and had the freedom to score whenever he wanted. He was able to create off the dribble and drive to the rim with a full head of steam to score with crafty finishes. Duke would also run off ball action for Barrett to get him free for open jumpers or dribble pull ups. He was also a good facilitator finding open teammates in transition and out of pick-and-roll. On the Knicks however Barrett hasn’t been able to show off his skill set consistently enough.
Over the past three seasons the Knick offense has featured Julius Randle as the lead man in New York. Offensive sets revolved around Randle being the primary option and playmaker. Stretches of Derrick Rose scoring and creating shots for others have been sprinkled in as well. During games Barrett was a slasher, cutting to the basket or coming off screens where he would get to the cup in one dribble. Other times Barrett sat in the corners waiting to shoot or to pass for a ball reversal. He was never given an opportunity to showcase his dynamic skill set.
When the Maple Mamba was given a chance to be more involved in the offense he flourished. Barrett was able to use herky-jerky moves around the rim to finish like he did in college. If a small defender switched on him, he didn’t settle for jumpers, instead posted up and used his size advantage for easy jump hooks. On nights when his jump shot was on, he looked like a natural perimeter scorer from mid range and three point land. In addition to scoring Barrett would make plays for his teammates, either on drives to the rim or out of pick-and-roll. The attributes that made him stand out from the rest of his collegiate peers translated to the pro level.
Entering the 2021 season there were a lot of expectations from Knicks fans for RJ Barrett to make the leap. They hoped the 20+ point scorer and facilitator they saw every few games would be consistent throughout the year. Barrett’s first month was a continuation from his sophomore campaign. He averaged 16 points and shot 34% from three and played mostly off the ball like he had his first two seasons. He did have a five game stretch where he scored at least 20 points and played as the secondary option which gave some fans hope that an All-Star selection was still a possibility. However late November into December was a rough patch for Barrett. He fell into a slump. He shot below 40% from the field and a below average 30% from three. Though he still competed on the defensive side of the ball Barrett’s confidence on the offensive side seemed to waver.
Then something happened after the new year. Barrett found his shooting rhythm and in a big way. Through January, Barrett averaged 43% from the field and 40% from three. In finding his touch the Knicks offense has started to revolve around Barrett. He has been given a larger role as the second option and in some matchups the first. With Barrett acting as the secondary ball handler and scorer he averaged 21 points. In the first eight games of the month Barrett scored 30+ three times resulting in a 5-3 record. He has found his confidence once again and is performing at a high level.
These January games could prove why Barrett could be a star for the Knicks. He has the tools and size to be a great player in the league. He’s only 21 years old and has shown improvement year to year. He may not be an All-Star this year but fans shouldn’t rule out a possible selection in the future. Jimmy Butler was 25 years old when he made his first All-Star appearance. Kawhi Leonard and Jaylen Brown were in their fifth season before being named All-Stars. The Knicks will have to be patient before Barrett blossoms in the garden but if his hot start to January continues he may bloom faster than expected.
