RJ Barrett has been in the NBA longer than he’s been legally able to receive a drink at a bar. That is what the RJ apologists will tell you. He’s young. Give him time. But does that excuse repeated poor decision making, bad shot selection, and an overall stubbornness to his game that is on display almost every night?
Sure, RJ Barrett is averaging solid NBA numbers for a fourth year player of his age. His career points, rebounds, and three-pointers made are among elite company for players his age or younger. He is 6′ 6″ with a strong NBA body that will continue to add muscle and strength. Yet, RJ Barrett is on the brink of becoming irrelevant for the New York Knicks. He still takes a lot of bad shots. He is statistically the worst defender of any Knicks starter. His movement on the court is slow, awkward, and he forces shots that have seemingly no chance of going in the basket.
No, RJ is not blessed with nearly the same talent as Ja Morant, or Zion Williamson, the two players drafted before him. His vertical jump is about the same as mine. His game is not particularly pleasing on the eyes, even clunky, laborious, and strenuous at times. Yet, despite his shortcomings, RJ is a gym rat, a tireless worker, the son of a Canadian National team player and current General Manager. Basketball is in his DNA. He isn’t flashy or explosive, but his numbers are above average and there is plenty of time for him to polish his game. Perhaps RJ will become an All-Star, maybe even a poor man’s Jimmy Butler. It seems unfair to expect stardom from a player simply because of their high draft position. The 2019 NBA Draft was not loaded by any stretch. There have only been three All-Stars from that draft, the aforementioned top two picks, and Darius Garland.
Knick fans, and NBA fans in general will view RJ more favorably by not placing expectations on him that are unrealistic. 4 years into the league, perhaps RJ is what he is, a below average shooter with a willingness to get to the rim and ability to draw fouls, finish, score (albeit inefficiently) and play hard every single minute with a team-first attitude. That is valuable in today’s NBA.
RJ Barrett will likely never develop into a perennial NBA All-Star, but that’s ok. More likely than not, RJ will be a dependable 20/5/3 guy on 42% shooting and a few too many turnovers/bonehead plays. He’s a third or fourth option who can start for most teams in the NBA. RJ can have a long, successful career in the NBA and retire as a fan favorite for the Knicks. Nevertheless, he appears destined for a career that Knick fans will never be fully satisfied with, which seems unfair.
Fresh Mootz 