RJ Barrett Over The Past 41 Games: 48/45/75 Shooting Splits

[Scalabrine]

RJ Barrett Over The Past 41 Games: 48- fg%, 45 -3fg%, 75- ft% Shooting Splits on 14/3.5/4 attempts per game with 18 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3 apg and great defense. I know, for many, that he's shed his bust label, but past threads about him have still shown that he has his doubters. He started the season in a 10 or 11 game shooting slump but since then has turned into a very consistent player.

At just 20 years old, I think he's proving that the sky is the limit for him with his work ethic, level head, and humble approach to the game. He rarely complains to refs or forces the issues and kind of just plays his game and sticks to the game plan. Thibs and a stable culture of discipline, defense, and hard work have also proven perfect for a guy like him. Remember, he didn't even make the rookie team last year...

The kid is automatic from the left corner, and he's becoming automatic elsewhere too. He's a good finisher. He's patient, and even though his assist numbers aren't that impressive, he has displayed good vision as a ball handler too.

I clearly cant say enough about his improvement and just wanted to share with everyone!

I'll end this post with a hot take to get things started spicy. He's gonna be a more important player than Ja Morant. Discuss.

[NADALalot]

RJ is Klay Thompson plus more athleticism.
Incredible specimen of skill and physicality combined.
Tremendously gifted.

[Karate Diop]

He looked pretty good against the Nets, was largely a liability on defense but he hit a few complex shots you had to tip your hat too. The key for his next level is to consistently hit the three, from there it's anyone's guess whether he can tighten his handles and learn to make plays for others... Headed in the right direction, but I can't agree with the Ja Morant statement. Morant is the leader of his team and #1 scoring option despite his struggles from three he's been the better player overall by a decent margin.

[NADALalot]

Coach Thib is in awe of RJ's defense and work ethic.
That says it all.

[BrooklynDynasty]

Better long term pick than Ja

[Dave DaButcher]

Read on Twitter

?s=21

He’s getting better every day.

Not simply idiotic, but downright offensive, that the geniuses at ESPN left him off the top 25 under 25 list.

[PD28]

It's always been a mental thing with RJ, there are times where he dominates and makes the right plays and other times where he forgets what good basketball is. I watched him a decent amount on team Canada but not so much on the Knicks. Is he being used differently now?

[UcanUwill]

If he busted, I never would have looked at FIBA U19 the same again lol.

[Raps in 4]

As a Canadian, I am happy to see this.

[Andrew_M08]

Happy for Barrett and Knicks fans. Future actually looks bright in NY and that's great to see for a change.

[Vampirate]

Kudos to the guy, he went from a backup type of scorer to a starting caliber type of scorer in 1 season.

[theonlyclutch]

Another perspective: RJ is shooting crazy hot from deep during this streak (unsustainable if FT% is a guide) but he is still scoring at below league average efficiency with 56.5% TS... Is that really a good thing?

[PistolPeteJR]

What "bust" label? The kid is in his SECOND YEAR.

[ATRAIN53]

remember, Thibs got Joakim Noah to win the DPOY award.

If you are a player and you want to work hard you want a coach that works just as hard as you.
players know he's gonna work them hard and this is the kind of payoff you see.

I hope he wins a title somewhere so he has the final credentials to get into the HOF.
He belongs in there, the guy is a basketball lifer.


I love having relevant Knick basketball again!!!

[jwise44]

What "bust" label? The kid is in his SECOND YEAR.

This is realgm...people have already labeled wiseman and anthony edwards busts at past points in the season

[Texas Chuck]

What "bust" label? The kid is in his SECOND YEAR.

This is realgm...people have already labeled wiseman and anthony edwards busts at past points in the season

I mean we had a whole thread built around the premise that Luka and Zion hadn't really shown anything yet so yeah.....

But as to the OP, it's good he's playing well and its even better that he's doing it in NYC and its somehow staying under the radar. I'd love that as a Knicks fan--keep him feeling underappreciated, unrecognized and thus motivated to keep putting in the work. As Bill Parcells would say, lets put away the anointing oil.

The other positive is Thibs is playing him "only" 34 mpg. Gotta hope next year he doesn't start playing Luol Deng minutes.

[Reeko]

It was always just a matter of time for RJ. He has a really strong work ethic, he's going to be either an All Star or borderline in a few years. His peak may never match Zion's but he could very well end up having the longer and better career.

[Ritzo]

A 20 year old with shooting splits like that, add his great defense and a wing player with elite size, that's a gem in the current NBA.

[Scalabrine]

Another perspective: RJ is shooting crazy hot from deep during this streak (unsustainable if FT% is a guide) but he is still scoring at below league average efficiency with 56.5% TS... Is that really a good thing?

How many games does it take for it to stopped being called a "streak"?

I could understand if it was 10 games or something, but it's been 41 games!

[bisme37]

He's one of my favorite young players. He was really good last night on both ends, and clutch. C's snuck away with the win but it def wasn't RJ's fault.