Is RJ Barrett a beast?

[dakomish23]

He wasn’t finishing this move earlier in the year, but just the fact he was executing the move was a sign of things to come. Sometimes you just have to be patient for it all to come together and for them to get the timing and feel down with reps.

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[Lord Commander]

Obi is going to make ya'll eat your words too! Watch.

[DowNY]

Paul Pierce is another one who had very similiar numbers to RJ at this point in their careers.

https://stathead.com/tiny/wzSfS

RJ will have his own style, but great to see him improving and the numbers stack up really well to other of those great wing players early in their careers.

That’s the guy I been comparing RJ for a minute. Everyone reaching to see “what does RJ do that’s elite?” & those questions used to be asked for Pierce. Dudes are ballers.

Yet I had to sit through trash Evan Turner takes.

[Separatista]

What I really like about RJ is that the guy improves his game mid-season. Some players need a summer break to hone their skill, some need a year or two to develop. Barret, and I even saw it last season, improves while the season goes on. Free throws, mid-range, long-range, passing tendencies, positioning for a rebound, defense and offensive awareness. The guy picks things up rather quickly.

This season, you see it on the 3 ball. One game he misses a couple of FTs next game he hit 100%. That move where IQ and RJ probes at the top of the key then either drive or pass, RJ didn’t have that last season. The guy has the exp boost. He keeps leveling and picking up skills fast. Plus, he’s strong as an ox.

[Clyde_Style]

What I really like about RJ is that the guy improves his game mid-season. Some players need a summer break to hone their skill, some need a year or two to develop. Barret, and I even saw it last season, improves while the season goes on. Free throws, mid-range, long-range, passing tendencies, positioning for a rebound, defense and offensive awareness. The guy picks things up rather quickly.

This season, you see it on the 3 ball. One game he misses a couple of FTs next game he hit 100%. That move where IQ and RJ probes at the top of the key then either drive or pass, RJ didn’t have that last season. The guy has the exp boost. He keeps leveling and picking up skills fast. Plus, he’s strong as an ox.

For such a big guard, what is impressing me lately is how meticulously he navigates a packed paint to get his shot off. It is strange to say this, but it is becoming almost Nash-like the way he operates in traffic. That he can even do that is encouraging, but to do it already at age 20 is astounding.

His relentless desire to get to the rim had him pounding his head against the wall. He took his lumps, but he broke through. Now he's tapping into the desire to get to the rack with actual finesse and skill.

[Clyde_Style]

Obi is going to make ya'll eat your words too! Watch.

Would be nice

[RHODEY]

What I really like about RJ is that the guy improves his game mid-season. Some players need a summer break to hone their skill, some need a year or two to develop. Barret, and I even saw it last season, improves while the season goes on. Free throws, mid-range, long-range, passing tendencies, positioning for a rebound, defense and offensive awareness. The guy picks things up rather quickly.

This season, you see it on the 3 ball. One game he misses a couple of FTs next game he hit 100%. That move where IQ and RJ probes at the top of the key then either drive or pass, RJ didn’t have that last season. The guy has the exp boost. He keeps leveling and picking up skills fast. Plus, he’s strong as an ox.

For such a big guard, what is impressing me lately is how meticulously he navigates a packed paint to get his shot off. It is strange to say this, but it is becoming almost Nash-like the way he operates in traffic. That he can even do that is encouraging, but to do it already at age 20 is astounding.

His relentless desire to get to the rim had him pounding his head against the wall. He took his lumps, but he broke through. Now he's tapping into the desire to get to the rack with actual finesse and skill.

Since Nash is his mentor and Godfather, maybe that's no coincidence.

[Clyde_Style]

What I really like about RJ is that the guy improves his game mid-season. Some players need a summer break to hone their skill, some need a year or two to develop. Barret, and I even saw it last season, improves while the season goes on. Free throws, mid-range, long-range, passing tendencies, positioning for a rebound, defense and offensive awareness. The guy picks things up rather quickly.

This season, you see it on the 3 ball. One game he misses a couple of FTs next game he hit 100%. That move where IQ and RJ probes at the top of the key then either drive or pass, RJ didn’t have that last season. The guy has the exp boost. He keeps leveling and picking up skills fast. Plus, he’s strong as an ox.

For such a big guard, what is impressing me lately is how meticulously he navigates a packed paint to get his shot off. It is strange to say this, but it is becoming almost Nash-like the way he operates in traffic. That he can even do that is encouraging, but to do it already at age 20 is astounding.

His relentless desire to get to the rim had him pounding his head against the wall. He took his lumps, but he broke through. Now he's tapping into the desire to get to the rack with actual finesse and skill.

Since Nash is his mentor and Godfather, maybe that's no coincidence.

You know I completely forgot that and wasn't even making the connection when writing that. But you're right. It makes perfect sense. Definitely something going on there the way he negotiates the hot zone

[RHODEY]

For such a big guard, what is impressing me lately is how meticulously he navigates a packed paint to get his shot off. It is strange to say this, but it is becoming almost Nash-like the way he operates in traffic. That he can even do that is encouraging, but to do it already at age 20 is astounding.

His relentless desire to get to the rim had him pounding his head against the wall. He took his lumps, but he broke through. Now he's tapping into the desire to get to the rack with actual finesse and skill.

Since Nash is his mentor and Godfather, maybe that's no coincidence.

You know I completely forgot that and wasn't even making the connection when writing that. But you're right. It makes perfect sense. Definitely something going on there the way he negotiates the hot zone

Very astute of you to pick up on that without even thinking of that connection!

[knicks94]

His 3 pt shooting looks very Nash like.

[Nazrmohamed]

Paul Pierce is another one who had very similiar numbers to RJ at this point in their careers.

https://stathead.com/tiny/wzSfS

RJ will have his own style, but great to see him improving and the numbers stack up really well to other of those great wing players early in their careers.

That’s the guy I been comparing RJ for a minute. Everyone reaching to see “what does RJ do that’s elite?” & those questions used to be asked for Pierce. Dudes are ballers.

Yet I had to sit through trash Evan Turner takes.

Yeah but Evan Tuner should've been good. Idk what happened. He was doing everything in college.

[Oscirus]

I remember at the beginning of the season we were talking about improving his three point shooting in a couple of years. This fool done over-acheived and did it over a half of a season.

[K_ick_God]

It's not crazy to compare him to good tempo PGs because that's how he moves. I earlier compared him a little to LJ. Only because a lack of hops (the LJ that came to the Knicks) doesn't matter if someone has strength, clutchness and a feel for the game, and is just a winner. So 33% natural 2G (I see a little Harden too), some extra good court vision and tempo that's like a PG, maybe 33% that, and 33% just a player who is strong physically and mentally and knows how to win. You can pick the final 1%.

But he's a unique player in some ways because he plays both big and small for his size.

[Clyde_Style]

It's not crazy to compare him to good tempo PGs because that's how he moves. I earlier compared him a little to LJ. Only because a lack of hops (the LJ that came to the Knicks) doesn't matter if someone has strength, clutchness and a feel for the game, and is just a winner. So 33% natural 2G (I see a little Harden too), some extra good court vision and tempo that's like a PG, maybe 33% that, and 33% just a player who is strong physically and mentally and knows how to win. You can pick the final 1%.

But he's a unique player in some ways because he plays both big and small for his size.

Kahwi also plays big for his size too and is hard to compare to anyone else. I like having a player who doesn't fit one mold and who can have an impact in all facets of the game. What I do think is comparable to Kahwi is the gravity RJ displays. A player like that has both the will and the skills to carve out the space they want to command on the floor. You know they're going to that spot, but you still cannot prevent it. It's a force. It's special. Not that many players have that, including many of the top players in the league.

[NYKnickerbocker]

I like that he’s not ball dominant. Don’t get me wrong I’d take a Harden/Luka in a heart beat. But I’m never crazy about guys who’s games basically make the entire team depend on them whenever they are on the court. RJ seems to have no issue when he has to watch elfrid do his thang ( lmao ) and keeps playing D and stays engaged on both ends of the court mostly.

Now he could always develop into one of those ball dominate guys. And I’d still love em.

[Dave DaButcher]

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?s=21

Can anyone with a subscription to The Athletic please summarize this for us, particularly who Vorkunov lists as RJ’s statistical comps? Thanks in advance.

[msanchez2725]

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?s=21

Can anyone with a subscription to The Athletic please summarize this for us, particularly who Vorkunov lists as RJ’s statistical comps? Thanks in advance.

The list of second-year players aged 21 and younger who have averaged Barrett’s numbers (25-plus minutes, 16-plus points, five-plus rebounds and at least 35-percent shooting on 3s) since 2000-01 is heady company: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Karl-Anthony Towns, Kristaps Porzingis, Brandon Ingram and Lauri Markkanen. Lower those thresholds to two rebounds per game, and that invites even more favorable outcomes.

[BugginOut]

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Good article in the Ringer about RJ. One thing they note is that RJ gets way less touches than Zion and Ja, and that we should be using him more as a playmaker. But, I've liked how Thibs has been using him now. Next year is when RJ will really break out.

[louisorr]

Back in the 96 finals Gary Payton was going at MJ, defending him, trash talking him...and the announcer said something to the effect that even though Michael was clearly the superior player, GP thinks he is the best player on the floor every time he steps on to it, no matter what situation or who else is out there and that is his greatest strength.
RJ reminds me of GP in that respect.

[cgmw]

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Good article in the Ringer about RJ. One thing they note is that RJ gets way less touches than Zion and Ja, and that we should be using him more as a playmaker. But, I've liked how Thibs has been using him now. Next year is when RJ will really break out.

Good piece of writing here, I lol’d:

In that way, Barrett represents the unexpected quandary in which New York finds itself. A rebuilding team with the league’s lowest payroll that is in line to have more than $40 million in cap space this offseason and controls nine first-round picks in the next seven drafts should probably take the long view when it comes to player development and expanding the skill sets of the young talent likely to stick around for the long haul. A team that’s in seventh place, that has what’s looking like at least a coin-flip chance of making the play-in tournament, and that is coached by someone for whom “the long view” amounts to “looking to the end of the bench to see if he can find any other former Bulls, perhaps Keith Bogans, to sub in” will likely have different priorities, though.