Official RJ Barrett Thread

[Tofubeque]

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The fact 2 Knicks accounts have to reinforce this for themselves shows there's doubt in their minds. What happened to the crazy netrtg with OG last year? The Knicks are 5-5 with fully healthy starters and just beat a 2-7 team.

[WaltFrazier]

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Just posting for reactions

The fact 2 Knicks accounts have to reinforce this for themselves shows there's doubt in their minds. What happened to the crazy netrtg with OG last year? The Knicks are 5-5 with fully healthy starters and just beat a 2-7 team.

Bench needs to score more, new teammates still developing chemistry, Precious is going to help depth and Robinson will make a big difference after Christmas. We'll see. Meanwhile OG had a great game last night and did this vs Giannis Friday:

https://mmsport.minutemediabeta.com/allknicks/news/bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-stifled-new-york-knicks-og-anunoby

Read the comments of Thibs and KAT

[dTox]

I've always felt RJ's long term future was a 6th man. That isn't a dig or meant to be a put down. I think he'd be elite in that role.

This, on a winning or contending team, this is RJ's ideal role. And I bet his efficiency will skyrocket going against backups as well.

[Scase]

Don't know why that guy is only focusing on RJ when the Raps also got IQ,and Mogbo as well, but a big part of why the deal was made was so they didn't have to pay OG 45 mil a year.

While I don't agree with the tweet, IQ hasn't exactly been blowing the doors off since he got here, and we signed him to an inflated contract.

[MiamiSPX]

Don't know why that guy is only focusing on RJ when the Raps also got IQ,and Mogbo as well, but a big part of why the deal was made was so they didn't have to pay OG 45 mil a year.

Easy to say after a win in which he scored 24 points and played really well. Let’s see how this fan feels when they lose a playoff game by 20+ and OG has been out for 3 weeks and nobody knows when he is returning.

[PushDaRock]

RJ is in a bad position. If he's the #1 and teams prepare to stop him he will have limited options.

This will be the stretch were the haters get to gloat.

This was not a "team prepared for him" game, this was a "making terrible decisions" game. He was driving 1 on 3 and 1 on 4 for no reason, making stupid passes, taking ATB step back fading air ball 3's for zero reason while he was 2 for 12.

Just poor decision making all game, this is NYC RJ rearing its ugly head.

There really has been no positives to take from the last 5 games for him, it's poor shooting, poor decision making and poor defense. He isn't doing anything well on the court aside from maybe rebounding.

[MEDIC]

Barrett's recent shooting woes started the moment Barnes got hurt and Quickly was already out. When the clock runs deep and you have to be the guy that has to take very shot, or the end of the half, or the game is on the line, some guys just are not that guy. So far Barrett isn't that guy when he's got little help out there without someone taking the number one spot.

This. He is not an on the ball guy. He is at his best playing a similar role to what Gradey is playing..

If you put Gradey in the role of prinary ball handler/ facilitator, he would fail as well. I have no idea why the coaching staff can't find another way to run the offense with IQ & Barnes out.

You have to put players in a position to succeed. Last season Darko did a great job at that. This season, I have no idea what he is thinking. My feeling is he thinks its "development". The truth is RJ already had his development time in a primary ball handler role with the Knicks & it didn't work. Quit beating your head against the wall Darko. Get back to putting him in position to succeed.

One thing is clear. RJ needs Scottie..........and to some degree Scottie needs RJ.

[Scase]

RJ is in a bad position. If he's the #1 and teams prepare to stop him he will have limited options.

This will be the stretch were the haters get to gloat.

This was not a "team prepared for him" game, this was a "making terrible decisions" game. He was driving 1 on 3 and 1 on 4 for no reason, making stupid passes, taking ATB step back fading air ball 3's for zero reason while he was 2 for 12.

Just poor decision making all game, this is NYC RJ rearing its ugly head.

There really has been no positives to take from the last 5 games for him, it's poor shooting, poor decision making and poor defense. He isn't doing anything well on the court aside from maybe rebounding.

He's trying to do too much, as cliché as it sounds, he's not playing within the game. You can see him trying too hard to make things happen, but he's not a talented enough player to do most of those things. He was getting his passes picked off, losing the handle when backing a guy down 1:1, I think he got blocked like 5 times, and just jacking up ill advised 3's.

RJ is at his best when he has everything set up for him, and while it's understandable that we don't have much of the passing we'd need for that, he needs to recognize that and alter his game. RJs "claim to fame" was his ability to drive to the basket and finish through contact, this season it's not been the case. Hell, somehow GD managed 16FTA last night and RJ couldn't even get one, and it wasn't like he was getting hacked and no calls, he was just taking bad shots into 2 really good shot blockers. I've been saying this since the trade, his play style is just too predictable.

The Bucks are playing like junk, but Lopez and Giannis are legit rim protectors, and they just shut him down. I'd say he needs to recognize that and try something different....but he doesn't have anything else to his game.

[Johnny Bball]

Barrett's recent shooting woes started the moment Barnes got hurt and Quickly was already out. When the clock runs deep and you have to be the guy that has to take very shot, or the end of the half, or the game is on the line, some guys just are not that guy. So far Barrett isn't that guy when he's got little help out there without someone taking the number one spot.

This. He is not an on the ball guy. He is at his best playing a similar role to what Gradey is playing..

If you put Gradey in the role of prinary ball handler/ facilitator, he would fail as well. I have no idea why the coaching staff can't find another way to run the offense with IQ & Barnes out.

You have to put players in a position to succeed. Last season Darko did a great job at that. This season, I have no idea what he is thinking. My feeling is he thinks its "development". The truth is RJ already had his development time in a primary ball handler role with the Knicks & it didn't work. Quit beating your head against the wall Darko. Get back to putting him in position to succeed.

One thing is clear. RJ needs Scottie..........and to some degree Scottie needs RJ.

Yeah and I agree with that last sentiment that if you leave Barnes to run the offense everyplay and have to take those shots, he needs RJ with a worse defender on him helping him.

For now. I think spacing with Agbaji and Dick could be really great one day.

[ConSarnit]

Digging deeper on RJ's struggles:

His usage is too high. He's also being tasked to self-create way too much. Here are his % of fg assisted (2023/24 vs 2024/25):

2P%: .62 vs .32
3P%: .98 vs .78

RJ is creating far more of his own offense this year and it's cratering his efficiency. He's basically creating double his own 2pt attempts compared to last season.

Some shooting stats: 97% of RJ's 3pa were c&s last season with us. He made 39% of those. Only 73% of his 3pa this season are c&s. RJ is shooting 37% on c&s (similar to last year) but his off the dribble 3pt game is terrible (he's shooting 19%). He's also taking far more midrange attempts (0.2 vs 1.3 attempts per game). He's about 30% from midrange so this is killing his efficiency.

If we can reign RJ back in (ie decrease his usage once IQ and Barnes are back) his efficiency should rise. That will cut out any off the dribble 3's and pretty much any midrange attempts.

There is one cause for concern: his fg% within 5ft is currently 53%. This is a bad number but this number is more inline with his career than the 67% he shot within 5ft last year. If he's back to being a bad/mediocre finisher at the rim this is not good. If he's not going to be a >60% finisher at the rim (the only time he did it was last year) he's not going to add a lot of value.

[Johnny Bball]

This was not a "team prepared for him" game, this was a "making terrible decisions" game. He was driving 1 on 3 and 1 on 4 for no reason, making stupid passes, taking ATB step back fading air ball 3's for zero reason while he was 2 for 12.

Just poor decision making all game, this is NYC RJ rearing its ugly head.

There really has been no positives to take from the last 5 games for him, it's poor shooting, poor decision making and poor defense. He isn't doing anything well on the court aside from maybe rebounding.

He's trying to do too much, as cliché as it sounds, he's not playing within the game. You can see him trying too hard to make things happen, but he's not a talented enough player to do most of those things. He was getting his passes picked off, losing the handle when backing a guy down 1:1, I think he got blocked like 5 times, and just jacking up ill advised 3's.

RJ is at his best when he has everything set up for him, and while it's understandable that we don't have much of the passing we'd need for that, he needs to recognize that and alter his game. RJs "claim to fame" was his ability to drive to the basket and finish through contact, this season it's not been the case. Hell, somehow GD managed 16FTA last night and RJ couldn't even get one, and it wasn't like he was getting hacked and no calls, he was just taking bad shots into 2 really good shot blockers. I've been saying this since the trade, his play style is just too predictable.

The Bucks are playing like junk, but Lopez and Giannis are legit rim protectors, and they just shut him down. I'd say he needs to recognize that and try something different....but he doesn't have anything else to his game.

This isn't hard. It's because he has to play strictly above the break with Barnes and Quickly out. Last night that leaves him trying to drive through the Bucks wall instead of attacking from just the side, on cuts or in transition.

He's not trying to do too much, there's little option but to have him do too much and see what he can make out of it. Doesn't matter if we lose.

[Johnny Bball]

Don't know why that guy is only focusing on RJ when the Raps also got IQ,and Mogbo as well, but a big part of why the deal was made was so they didn't have to pay OG 45 mil a year.

They tried and tried but OG was bailing for NY. That's why they traded him. I think they would have paid him.

[PushDaRock]

Digging deeper on RJ's struggles:

His usage is too high. He's also being tasked to self-create way too much. Here are his % of fg assisted (2023/24 vs 2024/25):

2P%: .62 vs .32
3P%: .98 vs .78

RJ is creating far more of his own offense this year and it's cratering his efficiency. He's basically creating double his own 2pt attempts compared to last season.

Some shooting stats: 97% of RJ's 3pa were c&s last season with us. He made 39% of those. Only 73% of his 3pa this season are c&s. RJ is shooting 37% on c&s (similar to last year) but his off the dribble 3pt game is terrible (he's shooting 19%). He's also taking far more midrange attempts (0.2 vs 1.3 attempts per game). He's about 30% from midrange so this is killing his efficiency.

If we can reign RJ back in (ie decrease his usage once IQ and Barnes are back) his efficiency should rise. That will cut out any off the dribble 3's and pretty much any midrange attempts.

There is one cause for concern: his fg% within 5ft is currently 53%. This is a bad number but this number is more inline with his career than the 67% he shot within 5ft last year. If he's back to being a bad/mediocre finisher at the rim this is not good. If he's not going to be a >60% finisher at the rim (the only time he did it was last year) he's not going to add a lot of value.

Yeah I think everyone can see he's having to try and do too much out there. From the eye test, he's also getting a lot of grenades late shot clock where he's forced to create something, because we don't have anyone on this roster that can with Scottie and IQ out. Basically, he's not getting anything easy out there to catch a rhythm and get himself going and it's likely leading to some frustration and poor decision making on his end.

The rim finishing is a concern but our lack of shooting is probably really hurting the spacing. Even with all our ball movement, we are 2nd last in threes and 3rd last in attempts. Not having to worry about defending the 3 is allowing teams to really pack the paint in against us.

[brownbobcat]

Don't know why that guy is only focusing on RJ when the Raps also got IQ,and Mogbo as well, but a big part of why the deal was made was so they didn't have to pay OG 45 mil a year.

Sure, but they're paying IQ and RJ $58mil a year instead.

It was still a good trade, probably the best one available and they had to move OG. I think we have to look at the silver lining here. We saw what he could do last year given a more defined role. And clearly, iso scoring/shooting are not among RJ's strengths. But those are areas has to improve on, especially if there's any hope of meshing with Barnes in the long term. So in a season that doesn't count for anything, I say let him and Gradey continue to fire away and refine their skillset.

[ConSarnit]

Digging deeper on RJ's struggles:

His usage is too high. He's also being tasked to self-create way too much. Here are his % of fg assisted (2023/24 vs 2024/25):

2P%: .62 vs .32
3P%: .98 vs .78

RJ is creating far more of his own offense this year and it's cratering his efficiency. He's basically creating double his own 2pt attempts compared to last season.

Some shooting stats: 97% of RJ's 3pa were c&s last season with us. He made 39% of those. Only 73% of his 3pa this season are c&s. RJ is shooting 37% on c&s (similar to last year) but his off the dribble 3pt game is terrible (he's shooting 19%). He's also taking far more midrange attempts (0.2 vs 1.3 attempts per game). He's about 30% from midrange so this is killing his efficiency.

If we can reign RJ back in (ie decrease his usage once IQ and Barnes are back) his efficiency should rise. That will cut out any off the dribble 3's and pretty much any midrange attempts.

There is one cause for concern: his fg% within 5ft is currently 53%. This is a bad number but this number is more inline with his career than the 67% he shot within 5ft last year. If he's back to being a bad/mediocre finisher at the rim this is not good. If he's not going to be a >60% finisher at the rim (the only time he did it was last year) he's not going to add a lot of value.

Yeah I think everyone can see he's having to try and do too much out there. From the eye test, he's also getting a lot of grenades late shot clock where he's forced to create something, because we don't have anyone on this roster that can with Scottie and IQ out. Basically, he's not getting anything easy out there to catch a rhythm and get himself going and it's likely leading to some frustration and poor decision making on his end.

The rim finishing is a concern but our lack of shooting is probably really hurting the spacing. Even with all our ball movement, we are 2nd last in threes and 3rd last in attempts. Not having to worry about defending the 3 is allowing teams to really pack the paint in against us.

He's taking about 1 more "late clock" attempt per game this year. Even if you removed it completely he'd still only be shooting 42% on the season. Agreed that he's not getting anything easy out there. He's being forced to initiate way too much but there aren't exactly a bunch of great offensive options right now. RJ's 50% TS sucks. As far as ballhandlers go, Mitchell and Shead are even worse. Both of those guys are crazy inefficient and turn the ball over a ton. RJ is being asked to do way too much because nobody else can.

[Tacoma]

Barrett's recent shooting woes started the moment Barnes got hurt and Quickly was already out. When the clock runs deep and you have to be the guy that has to take very shot, or the end of the half, or the game is on the line, some guys just are not that guy. So far Barrett isn't that guy when he's got little help out there without someone taking the number one spot.

This. He is not an on the ball guy. He is at his best playing a similar role to what Gradey is playing..

If you put Gradey in the role of prinary ball handler/ facilitator, he would fail as well. I have no idea why the coaching staff can't find another way to run the offense with IQ & Barnes out.

You have to put players in a position to succeed. Last season Darko did a great job at that. This season, I have no idea what he is thinking. My feeling is he thinks its "development". The truth is RJ already had his development time in a primary ball handler role with the Knicks & it didn't work. Quit beating your head against the wall Darko. Get back to putting him in position to succeed.

One thing is clear. RJ needs Scottie..........and to some degree Scottie needs RJ.

Are we over-analyzing here? RJ was not the primary ball handler in NY, was #3 behind behind Brunson and Randle. RJ's best string of games last season in TO occurred after Barnes' season ending injury and was playing well to start this season without Barnes. In fact, in his only game with Barnes this season he didn't play all that well, shot only 9-21.

[Ell Curry]

I'm just not sure what the market is for RJ, because we're among the most logical teams for him to be on, (even aside from the Canadian thing) as we have no real #1 scorer, Quickley and Dick should provide good spacing next to him (which he needs to drive), we have no other lefties (so he can work on his preferred side, which was an issue with Randle) and we're a young team who can afford to give him minutes while he hopefully improves.

Teams I think he'd make some sense for:
-Utah, nothing at the 3, could use a scorer, Lauri opens up space for him
-Clippers, could use a scoring option at forward
-Brooklyn, basically the minutes Wilson and Ziaire are playing, and even if they get a wing, they'll probably move on from DFS so there will be time

but are any of those teams giving us anything of note for him? And getting off of his money doesn't seem super helpful at the moment either, with Brown and Boucher expiring, though it might be in 2026-27 if we moved him for say John Collins to get space that year. Not sure it would make a significant difference, though.

[MEDIC]

Barrett's recent shooting woes started the moment Barnes got hurt and Quickly was already out. When the clock runs deep and you have to be the guy that has to take very shot, or the end of the half, or the game is on the line, some guys just are not that guy. So far Barrett isn't that guy when he's got little help out there without someone taking the number one spot.

This. He is not an on the ball guy. He is at his best playing a similar role to what Gradey is playing..

If you put Gradey in the role of prinary ball handler/ facilitator, he would fail as well. I have no idea why the coaching staff can't find another way to run the offense with IQ & Barnes out.

You have to put players in a position to succeed. Last season Darko did a great job at that. This season, I have no idea what he is thinking. My feeling is he thinks its "development". The truth is RJ already had his development time in a primary ball handler role with the Knicks & it didn't work. Quit beating your head against the wall Darko. Get back to putting him in position to succeed.

One thing is clear. RJ needs Scottie..........and to some degree Scottie needs RJ.

Are we over-analyzing here? RJ was not the primary ball handler in NY, was #3 behind behind Brunson and Randle. RJ's best string of games last season in TO occurred after Barnes' season ending injury and was playing well to start this season without Barnes. In fact, in his only game with Barnes this season he didn't play all that well, shot only 9-21.

RJ only played 1.5 seasons with Brunson.

The first 3 years of his development was spent being groomed as "the guy". Brunson wasn't on the team.

[PushDaRock]

Digging deeper on RJ's struggles:

His usage is too high. He's also being tasked to self-create way too much. Here are his % of fg assisted (2023/24 vs 2024/25):

2P%: .62 vs .32
3P%: .98 vs .78

RJ is creating far more of his own offense this year and it's cratering his efficiency. He's basically creating double his own 2pt attempts compared to last season.

Some shooting stats: 97% of RJ's 3pa were c&s last season with us. He made 39% of those. Only 73% of his 3pa this season are c&s. RJ is shooting 37% on c&s (similar to last year) but his off the dribble 3pt game is terrible (he's shooting 19%). He's also taking far more midrange attempts (0.2 vs 1.3 attempts per game). He's about 30% from midrange so this is killing his efficiency.

If we can reign RJ back in (ie decrease his usage once IQ and Barnes are back) his efficiency should rise. That will cut out any off the dribble 3's and pretty much any midrange attempts.

There is one cause for concern: his fg% within 5ft is currently 53%. This is a bad number but this number is more inline with his career than the 67% he shot within 5ft last year. If he's back to being a bad/mediocre finisher at the rim this is not good. If he's not going to be a >60% finisher at the rim (the only time he did it was last year) he's not going to add a lot of value.

Yeah I think everyone can see he's having to try and do too much out there. From the eye test, he's also getting a lot of grenades late shot clock where he's forced to create something, because we don't have anyone on this roster that can with Scottie and IQ out. Basically, he's not getting anything easy out there to catch a rhythm and get himself going and it's likely leading to some frustration and poor decision making on his end.

The rim finishing is a concern but our lack of shooting is probably really hurting the spacing. Even with all our ball movement, we are 2nd last in threes and 3rd last in attempts. Not having to worry about defending the 3 is allowing teams to really pack the paint in against us.

He's taking about 1 more "late clock" attempt per game this year. Even if you removed it completely he'd still only be shooting 42% on the season. Agreed that he's not getting anything easy out there. He's being forced to initiate way too much but there aren't exactly a bunch of great offensive options right now. RJ's 50% TS sucks. As far as ballhandlers go, Mitchell and Shead are even worse. Both of those guys are crazy inefficient and turn the ball over a ton. RJ is being asked to do way too much because nobody else can.

We are essentially playing 4 on 5 with Mitchell/Shead out there. Both have turnovers percentages above 20% which is really high especially when factoring in the types of passes and creating both are tasked with which isn't much.

Even having someone like Olynyk out there to ease some of the initiating of the offense out there would help a ton right now. Our PG play is borderline unplayable right now.

[bluerap23]

Read on Twitter

Just posting for reactions

The fact 2 Knicks accounts have to reinforce this for themselves shows there's doubt in their minds. What happened to the crazy netrtg with OG last year? The Knicks are 5-5 with fully healthy starters and just beat a 2-7 team.

Some trades can be a win-win. I love this trade for the raptors. I also love this trade for the Knicks, but Imagine how this board would react if we didn't trade OG and then gave him that contract.