RJ Barrett

‘Most GMs never played basketball’ Kemba Walker, RJ Barrett react to NBA GM Poll’s Knicks snub

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kemba walker, knicks

Three past and present NBA general managers have already given up on Kemba Walker. But on Tuesday night, in an emotional preseason debut with his hometown team New York Knicks, Walker began a new chapter on his career and proved he still has plenty to offer.

Playing with a chip on this shoulder, Walker looked healthy and shifty. He scored 12 points on 50 percent shooting and dished out three assists in 21 minutes to help the Knicks steamroll Indiana Pacers, 125-104, in the Garden.

Walker was in no mood to spoil the sweet homecoming win when asked about his reaction to the latest Knicks snub in the annual NBA GM survey released earlier in the day.

“I could care less. Most [of these] GMs never played basketball. Let’s be real,” Walker said. “Who cares what they think? I could care less. We believe in ourselves. We’re gonna play so hard every night. And that’s gonna give us a chance to win every night.”

Despite his addition to the team, alongside Evan Fournier, the consensus among GMs around the league is that the Knicks would regress this season. Not a single GM voted for the Knicks to finish among the top four teams in the East. Their preseason victim Pacers received fourth-place votes. At the same time, Miami, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Boston got third and fourth place votes behind the top favorites in the East, Brooklyn, and Milwaukee.

While most GMs voted for Tom Thibodeau as the head coach with the best defensive schemes in the league, the Knicks were left off in the list of their top defensive teams.

RJ Barrett was flabbergasted.

“I don’t know. I agree with you. It makes no sense,” Barrett told reporters when the topic was brought up. “First of all, a Thibs-coached team is automatically gonna be a good defensive team. You have Nerls (Nerlens Noel) and Mitch (Mitchell Robinson) on the team like we’re gonna be good defensively. I’m not worried about that.”

Even without Noel and Robinson, the Knicks stamped their signature Thibodeau defense in the preseason opener. The Pacers’ offensive futility Tuesday night was on par with the Knicks’ league-leading defensive stats last season:

  • Points Allowed: 104 (last season 104.7)
  • 3P% Allowed: 34.1% (last season 33.7%)
  • FG% Allowed: 41.3% (last season 44%)

There were concerns that their defense might drop when Walker and Fournier were brought in to replace Reggie Bullock and Elfrid Payton in the starting lineup. The win against the Pacers proved Walker and Fournier are competitors too on the defensive end.

Barrett was no longer surprised by the doubters and slanders that were coming their way.

“As you know, I’m used to it. It happens all the time. I mean I don’t really care. All I can do is just go out and improve. All we can do as a team is just play together and get wins. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what any other GM thinks, what anybody thinks. [What matters] is what we think, what work ethic that we have, and how that translates on the court.” Barrett said.

“Whether it’s me personally or us as a team, we just get disrespected all the time. As I said, it doesn’t matter. We just do, just like what we did last year — just go out and show we have improved.

The steadily improving Barrett dropped 17 points on an efficient 3-for-6 from the 3-point zone and 7-for-14 overall shooting Tuesday night. He flaunted his much-improved offensive arsenal — from catch and shoot to off the dribble and coming off screens — developed from his thrice-a-day summer training and extra shooting drills the night before games.

The 2019 third overall pick said the NBA All-Rookie Team snub had fueled him. This summer, the ESPN Top-100 snub added to the chip on his shoulder.

“First of all, I’m still motivated by that. That’s never gonna change. Every time I stepped on the court, I gotta prove, I gotta show everybody who I am, what I can do on the court, and why everyone was wrong about me,” Barrett said. “Being the underdog is fun. It makes winning better.”

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

 

Barrett as Knicks’ top perimeter defender? Thibodeau says ‘That’s the challenge’

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new york knicks, rj barrett

New York Knicks former lottery pick RJ Barrett wants to be known as a two-way player and become one of the top perimeter defenders. This season will give him that opportunity.

Can he do it?

“That’s the challenge,” Tom Thibodeau said after Thursday’s practice. “To continue to challenge him, to grow and get better.”

When Reggie Bullock took his long locks and defensive lockdown mentality to Dallas, the onus was on Barrett to step up to the plate.

Evan Fournier is a shiny upgrade than Bullock. But despite Bullock’s limitation on shot creation, he was the bedrock of the Knicks’ perimeter defense last season. According to ESPN stats, his 3.74 Defensive Real Plus-Minus (DRPM) was the second-best among all small forwards in the league.

Barrett landed third among all shooting guards (though he spent most of his playing time as a small forward) with 3.00 DRPM, while Fournier was so far behind, at 26th spot with 0.16 DRPM.

Last season, the Knicks vaunted defense under Thibodeau finished third, tied with the Utah Jazz, in defensive efficiency allowing only 105.7 per 100 possessions, according to ESPN’s Hollinger team statistics. The Los Angeles Lakers (104.8) and the Philadelphia 76ers (105.1) were the only teams ahead of them.

Bullock and Barrett, along with Julius Randle, were the constants in the Knicks’ top three best defensive lineups, per Cleaning The Glass.

The trio flanked by Elfrid Payton and Mitchell Robinson only allowed 104.1 points per 100 possessions. Swap Payton with Immanuel Quickley and Robinson with Noel, the Knicks’ defensive efficiency slightly dipped to 104.5 points. Their third-best defensive lineup featured Derrick Rose, Barrett, Bullock, Randle, and Noel (104.8 points).

With Kemba Walker and Fournier expected to start at the backcourt, there’s trepidation that the Knicks defense will sag this season. Barrett earlier said he’s more than willing to step up and take on Bullock’s role as their top wing defender if Thibodeau calls his number.

“I think each year you learn and I think he has a better understanding of the tendencies of players. I think he understands schemes a lot better. He’s gotten stronger,” Thibodeau said, “but I think it’s a challenge for the entire team to stay locked in and improve. There’s a lot of things we can do better.”

Barrett’s big jump in DRPM from his rookie year (-2.68, ranked 132nd) to his sophomore season showed his enormous appetite for growth. According to Cleaning The Glass, 97 percent of Barrett’s minutes last season were spent as a small forward, with the Knicks allowing 108.6 points per 100 possessions which ranked in the 87th percentile.

Relatively, Bullock was more effective as the shooting guard (107.7 points per 100 possessions, 85th percentile) than as a small forward (111.5 points per 100 possessions, 63rd percentile), per Cleaning The Glass. Perhaps it’s the reason why he spent 85 percent of his minutes as a shooting guard.

While Fournier brings “Judo toughness” to the Knicks, the Frenchman is more a bucket-getter than a lockdown defender. He gives up at least 9 to 10 pounds in heft to Barrett and three inches in wingspan. Barrett’s stocky 6-foot-6 (that could still be growing), 214-pound frame, and 6-10 wingspan better resemble Bullock’s attributes.

After Barrett, rookie Quentin Grimes figure to be their next best bet as a defensive stopper in the wings. He comes with a reputation as a solid two-way player after spending two seasons under former NBA coach Kelvin Sampson, who coaches as hard as Thibodeau. But in a roster as deep as the Knicks have this year, it’s hard to imagine Thibodeau giving Grimes a long leash during his rookie year.

Thibodeau has a pragmatic approach to mitigating the loss of Bullock, and in part Payton, in their bid to remain among the league’s top-tier defense after choosing to upgrade their offense with Walker and Fournier. There is pressure for Barrett to take another leap defensively, but Thibodeau is not putting it entirely on his shoulder.

“I think it’s important for us to approach it as last year is last year, this year is a new, different year. And it’s important for us to start with a zero base to know that we have to put the work into this. It’s very difficult to guard in this league individually. Collectively, what you can do as a team? And so everyone has to understand their job is to go out there and execute their part,” Thibodeau said.

“If one guy is not doing his job, it will break down. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a defensive transition, pick and roll defense, catch and shoot defense, low-post defense, whatever defense you’re in, it’s gotta be five guys tied together.”

Aristotle once said: “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” And it rings true with this Knicks team under Thibodeau.

“Each night you’ll be challenged in a different way. Some nights it may be the bigs. Some nights it’s (the) point guards. A lot of nights it’s (the) wings. And so help your teammate like you would want to be helped for. So everyone has to be in the right position. Everyone has to read the ball correctly. Everyone has to make multiple efforts,” said Thibodeau explaining his tried and tested defensive philosophy.

The Knicks were at their best last season when they played like a ‘string defensively’ as Walker described them Thursday. But having an elite two-way wing can bring the Knicks closer to title contention.

The jury is still out on Barrett. But embracing the challenge is a good start.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

RJ Barrett ready to become Knicks’ top perimeter defender

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knicks, rj barrett

RJ Barrett made a leap as a catch-and-shoot player last season. In Year 3, Barrett wanted to be known as a solid two-way player.

Someone has to step up after the New York Knicks lost their top perimeter defender in Reggie Bullock to the Dallas Mavericks in the offseason. Barrett is more than willing to pick up the slack.

“Being a two-way player is something that I’ve always strive for. Something that I want to do. It’s how I want to be known,” Barrett said Monday during the NBA Media Day. “So if coach [Tom Thibodeau] puts me in that position to be that guy guarding the [opposing team’s main] guy every night, I’m all for it. I’m up for the challenge. And I won’t back down.”

It’s also a pathway to reaching one of his other goals — becoming an All-Star in the league.

Last season, Barrett had shown he’s got what it takes to be a defensive force under Thibodeau’s defensive schemes. While everyone has been raving about Barrett’s remarkable shooting improvement (from 32 percent to a 40 percent three-point shooter), his tremendous improvement on defense got buried in the background.

Finally, Barrett’s stocky 6-foot-6 frame was put into good use that resulted in a 3.00 defensive real plus-minus (DRPM), according to ESPN stats. It was the third-highest DRPM among shooting guards behind Los Angeles Clippers’ Paul George (3.89) and Miami Heat’s Duncan Robinson (3.45).

DRPM is the player’s estimated on-court impact on team defensive performance, measured in points allowed per 100 defensive possessions.

Barrett had a -2.68 DRPM during his rookie year, which ranked near the bottom (132nd) in his position.

For comparison, Bullock averaged 3.74 DRPM, the second-best among all small forwards behind Brooklyn Nets’ Joe Harris (4.00) last season.

The Knicks’ projected starting lineup will have Barrett at the wings, joining their new backcourt of Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier and a frontline of Julius Randle and Nerlens Noel (while Mitchell Robinson will be eased back into the rotation).

Barrett has the defensive edge over Fournier, who only registered 0.16 DRPM last season, which ranked 32nd. In 2019, Fournier had a slightly better DRPM (0.27). Based on this statistic alone, it’s pretty apparent Barrett will take the most challenging defensive job on most nights.

Offensively, Barrett blossomed into Randle’s Robin to his Batman last season, averaging 17.6 points on 14.7 shot attempts per game. That could take a hit with the arrival of Walker and Fournier. But Barrett also sees this as an opportunity for him to get more open looks which could result in better efficiency. 

Barrett referenced something he saw on Twitter that read like ‘RJ Barrett going to the lane this year,’ and he would be left wide open as an immediate effect of Walker and Fournier’s addition to the team.

“It’s basically how I think it’s gonna be — more attention on other people. All of us can really play. So everyone’s gonna get an opportunity,” he said.

With more space to work on, Barrett projects to take to another leap offensively.

He has worked on his off the bounce game this summer under his trainer Drew Hanlen who has helped develop some of the league’s top wings like Bradley Beal and Jayson Tatum.

“Really, I was just working on my shooting, working on threes and certain shots that I need to be able to hit. So yeah, just being able to kind of recreate what I did last year and add on to that,” Barrett said.

Walker and Fournier made the Knicks a deeper team this year. But Barrett also noted that other teams had gotten better.

Chicago Bulls reloaded with Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan. Miami Heat added Kyle Lowry. Boston Celtics re-acquired Al Horford. Three teams that the Knicks leapfrogged last season.

The Knicks were able to address their holes — especially their point guard woes which plagued them when Elfrid Payton was unplayable down the stretch, and the heavy minutes took their toll on Derrick Rose’s body late in the playoffs.

Walker and Fournier could be the Knicks’ answer to their most pressing need, which is more shot creation to an offense that stalled in the playoffs.

“I think it’s great. We really have a team. We have a lot of weapons. That’s what you need,” Barrett said of Fournier and Walker’s signings. “Every night is gonna be different, there’s somebody contributing in a different way. I’m very excited.”

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Knicks’ Tom Thibodeau raves about RJ Barrett’s development and future success

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new york knicks, rj barrett

One of the New York Knicks‘ most valuable players is young guard RJ Barrett. Heading into his third season in the NBA, Barrett has three years remaining on his contract, with a maximum salary of $14.3 million during the 2023-24 season, when the front office can extend him a qualifying offer.

Barrett, who enjoyed massive up-swings in several categories during his sophomore season, is looking to improve even further this upcoming year. He posted 17.6 points, 3.0 assists, 5.8 rebounds, and shot 44% from the field last year. He also increased his three-point percentage by 8% to 40% and logged a 74.6% free-throw success rate, an increase of 15%.

Already being a solid defender helped Barrett get on the floor more frequently under head coach Tom Thibodeau, but the team has committed to him as their long-term solution at shooting guard. Last season, RJ played in all 72 games, averaging 34.9 minutes.

Thibodeau had nothing but great things to say about the 21-year-old Canada native during an interview last week:

“I think you guys have watched his growth. His ability to go off the dribble and get into the lane, his size, and also the way he improved his 3-point shooting last year, he made a major step. He’s made a huge commitment this summer. We think he’ll continue to get better; people tend to forget, he’s 21 years old. He averaged 18 points per game on a playoff team. He’s hungry, he’s driven. He’s smart, he’s competitive. Those are all the characteristics we’re looking for…. That’s why he’ll continue to get better.”

One of Barrett’s most exciting attributes is his ability to create shots for himself and others, seeing an increase in assists compared to his rookie season. If he can open up the floor for fellow teammates like Julius Randle and Evan Fournier, his impact will continue to expand.

Opposing teams focused on stopping Randle and Barrett during a dream turnaround season for the Knicks, but with added weaponry, the offense will have plenty of options to work with. At such a ripe age, Barrett continues to add muscle mass and increase his basketball IQ, which hopefully will aid in his growth moving forward. Barrett has been scrimmaging with Randle and a few other teammates prior to the start of training camp, further attesting to his work ethic.

Knicks: ESPN’s NBArank disrespects RJ Barrett after big sophomore season

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new york knicks, nyk, rj barrett

New York Knicks shooting guard RJ Barrett is criminally underrated in the basketball community, routinely being left off top-100 lists and rankings. In the latest offense, Barrett was left off ESPN’s NBArank, with several rookies getting the nod ahead of him, which is rather unexplainable.

Oddly, ESPN ranks Cade Cunningham and Jalen Green, two rookies, ahead of RJ Barrett, who established himself as a productive offensive scorer and adequate defender during the 2020-21 season.

Cunningham ranked 76th, ahead of players like Caris Levert and Knicks’ point guard Derrick Rose. Green ranks 96th with the expectation he will lead all rookies in scoring, which is all hearsay until he actually accomplishes that feat.

Realistically, unless you’re a generational talent like Zion Williams or LeBron James, any rookie making the top-100 list is spotty.

Looking at Barrett’s production from his sophomore season, he saw massive increases in several categories, including field-goal percentage, three-point shooting, and free-throw percentage. He enjoyed a slight increase in total rebounds and turned the ball over less.

He finished the campaign averaging 34.9 minutes per game, playing in all 72 games. He tallied 17.6 points, 3.0 assists, 5.8 rebounds, and shot 44% from the field. Barrett saw his three-point percentage increase 8% to 40% last year compared to his rookie season. With an effective field-goal percentage of nearly 50%, it is ludicrous he was left off a list that features multiple rookies who haven’t accomplished anything as a professional level yet.

The Knicks haven’t seen the best of RJ Barrett:

Heading into just his third year, Barrett still has three years left on his contract, including a qualifying offer for the 2023-24 season. The team has plenty of time to continue helping him develop, and with the additions of multiple scorers and facilitators, it will take a tremendous amount of pressure off him to force shots.

However, RJ paired nicely with Julius Randle last season, seeing a few advanced statistics increase with more minutes. The best part about RJ is his ability to finish in the paint using strength and elusiveness while also featuring as a spot shooter in the corner. Only 2.4% of his shots from three were unassisted, indicating that he found space and allowed his teammates to find him open. Nearly 30% of his total point production came from beyond the arc, while 54.3% of his points came from the paint and 7.0% from mid-range. He was able to create a lot of opportunities for himself, converting 64.7% of his two-point field goals unassisted.

Seeing clear advancements on offense and remaining aggressive on defense, it is crazy to think Barrett is considered more inferior than two players who’ve never enjoyed a single minute in the NBA. Hopefully, Barrett uses this as fuel for his growth and progression moving forward.

Knicks News: Frank Ntilikina posts farewell, Julius Randle raves about RJ Barrett

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new york knicks, rj barrett

The age of Frank Ntilikina has finally come to an end for the New York Knicks, who selected him 8th overall in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft. Funny enough, Ntilikina signed a fresh contract with the Dallas Mavericks this past week, who were also intrigued by the French native in that draft class.

During his time in New York, Ntilikina failed to establish himself as a primary point guard in one of the most hostile markets. He averaged just 5.5 points over four years, never hitting double-digit numbers in the category. He also only recorded 2.7 assists per game and shot 36.7% from the field. His playing time dropped off significantly during his final season with the Knicks, playing in just 33 games and starting four. Despite his difficult experience, Ntilikina had nothing but good things to say about the fans in New York.

Frank Ntilikina posted a heartfelt message to Knicks fans after signing a two-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks:

NEW YORK,

4 years, 4 years already… I remember the day of the draft like it was yesterday, One of my childhood dreams then became reality.

Playing for the Knicks has truly been a blessing and an amazing experience. You welcomed a kid who just left home in order to pursue his dreams and goals, and to continuously grow. I could not ask for more.

I would like to thank the entire franchise, the coaches, players, all members of training and medical staff and all the people who work hard every day for the success of this organization over the years.

Last but not least, to all the Knicks fans around the world… Thank you ! The support has been amazing from day 1.
Wins and losses, highs and lows, we have all seen one thing for sure, and that is that the passion and the love for basketball stays unbeaten through it all.

I am leaving now to open a new chapter in my journey, forever grateful for the opportunity.

The French Prince 🇫🇷👑

Julius Randle raves about RJ Barrett’s growth:

All-Star power forward Julius Randle has taken on a leadership role ever since he took a huge step forward in his development last year. Randle was the offensive leader on a team that desperately needed a star to take control and has since fueled the hungry organization in search of prolonged success.

Part of his leadership role is to help his teammates continue developing and staying proactive. Working closely with RJ Barrett has been a necessity for Randle, and he had nothing but great things to say about his growth and what makes him a unique talent.

”He just keeps improving. You can tell the guys who really love the game and dedicate themselves to their craft; he’s one of them.”

During Barrett’s second season last year, he saw improvements in nearly every category, averaging 17.6 points, 3.0 assists, 5.8 rebounds, and shooting 44.1% from the field. He saw an 8% increase in his three-point shooting, elevating it to 40.1%. His free-throw shooting also saw a 13% increase to 74.6%, and with his talents in the paint, getting to the free-throw line is a byproduct.

The duo of Randle and Barrett has the potential to be elite, and this upcoming season should see even better chemistry and flow between the two.

Grading the Knicks’ NBA 2K22 Ratings: Are they accurate?

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knicks

With the release of NBA 2K22 last Friday, we finally have our first look at the 2021-22 New York Knicks roster in 2K. This also means that Miles McBride and Quentin Grimes are playable for the first time ever. Let’s dive into these ratings and see if 2K got it right.

The Ratings

Julius Randle, 87

Can’t really complain about this one. Coming off the best season of his career where he won Most Improved Player(MIP), Randle has earned his place among the top ratings in the Eastern Conference. He should probably be at an 88 or an 89, but his performance in last year’s playoffs definitely played a factor in this year’s rating.

Grade: B

RJ Barrett, 83

This one was really surprising. Not because of how he isn’t higher, but because 2K finally decided to show RJ some respect. 83 is honestly a really great jumping-off point this upcoming season for the 21-year-old. The rating isn’t too low or too high, it’s perfect.

Grade: A

Kemba Walker, 83

Unsurprisingly, this is the lowest rating Walker has had since NBA 2K16. The 5-time All-Star had one of the worst seasons of his career last year and looks to bounce back on his hometown team. His dynamic scoring and playmaking abilities could transform the Knicks’ offense, leading to a ratings boost down the line. However, whether it be from his knee issues or just a regression of his skills, there is also a chance 83 isn’t the lowest we see his rating throughout the year.

Grade: A-

Derrick Rose, 83

After a terrific playoff series against the Hawks last season, D-Rose earned this 83 rating. Although he’s tied for the 2nd highest rating on the team, the former MVP will be coming off the bench this season. Look for him to make a real run at 6th Man of the Year and for this rating to stay pretty much the same all season.

Grade: A

Mitchell Robinson, 80

There’s no question about it: When the 7’0 Robinson is healthy, there are not many other players in the league who can match his level of athleticism and energy. However, he’s coming off multiple injuries, the latter of which saw him miss the final 26 games of the regular season, including the series against the Hawks. If he’s able to stay healthy, there’s little-to-no chance that this rating stays the same. For now, it does make sense after not playing half of last season.

Grade: B+

Evan Fournier, 79

This is the first one that’s way off. 2k has had a tendency in the past to underrate guards/wings that can score in a multitude of ways. Any guard they perceive to not be able to defend well and not have playmaking abilities will have a hard time getting a rating over 80, especially if they play for the Knicks. This one just doesn’t make sense, though. It could be due to the fact that the devs may have been taking his stats with Boston into account too much. Before his trade to the Celtics, Fournier was putting up almost 20 PPG in only 30 minutes per game. Fournier is at least an 82, maybe even an 83. The intangibles he brings on offense, including his shooting and finishing skills, are better than any other 79 in the game. This rating isn’t accurate at all.

Grade: F

Immanuel Quickley, 78

As one of the biggest steals in the 2020 NBA Draft, Quickley improved his rating from a 71 last year all the way up to a 79 by the end of the year. This is why this rating doesn’t really do it for me. To drop down a point after an entire offseason doesn’t make much sense. We’ll see how it unfolds for the second year from Kentucky, but there’s little doubt that he improves enough to get this rating over 80 by the playoffs.

Side note, Quickley is REALLY good at NBA2K.

Grade: C

Nerlens Noel, 78

As the defensive anchor of the Knicks throughout the final stretch of last season that culminated in the team making the playoffs for the first time in 8 years, Noel proved that he wasn’t your average backup center. Defensively, Noel is an incredibly reliable option off the bench. However, his offensive woes will always hamper any rating he’ll ever get from 2K.

Grade: A-

Obi Toppin, 76

If it weren’t for the competency and confidence shown by Obi Toppin at the end of the season last year, there’s a chance he’s nowhere near the 76 that he finds himself right now. The potential is clearly there, but will he find the ability to become more offensively dynamic? Only time will tell. But until we see him take a big leap, the rating he currently holds will stay the same.

The Rest:

Taj Gibson, 76

Kevin Knox, 72

Quentin Grimes, 71

Luca Vildoza, 71

Dwayne Bacon, 71

Miles McBride, 70

Overall, the Knicks have a team rating of 83, which is the highest rating they’ve had since NBA 2K14.

Why Knicks’ Evan Fournier and RJ Barrett are an underrated duo

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new york knicks, rj barrett

Adding talent this off-season was a priority for the New York Knicks, especially with a ton of cap space to spare and utilize. Of course, they would’ve preferred to land a big name with championship-caliber play, but instead, they added several players who can contribute toward a deep postseason run over a longer period.

Acquiring Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker injects talent into two positions that were considered weaknesses last season. While Reggie Bullock, who spent the last two years with the Knicks, played valiantly, averaging 10.9 points and shooting 41% from three-point range, Fournier offers a massive upgrade.

Not only is the French-born player capable of creating shots for himself, but he’s also a better three-point shooter, averaging 41.3% last season over 6.7 attempts per game. Bullock only attempted 3.8 shots per game from distance, showcasing the difference in scoring production.

Fournier finished last season with 17.1 points on average, 3.4 assists, and had a 56.5 effective field-goal percentage. He is far and away a better offensive player and even contributes more defensively. He will take significant pressure off power forward Julius Randle, as defenders simply can’t crowd the interior and force the Knicks to win with their shooting.

However, the pairing of Fournier and third-year player RJ Barrett could be something special. One of the most important aspects of sports is communication, and that assessment doesn’t differ in the NBA. Both Fournier and Barrett speak French, allowing them to communicate in a different language, which could give them a slight advantage over their competition, who can’t intercept information. While some might consider this a non-factor, playing off one another and creating shots will be a focal point for the Knicks, which will give them another element offensively.

Barrett, who had his best season to date during the 2020-21 season, averaging 17.6 points, 3.0 assists, 5.8 rebounds, and shooting 44% from the field, is looking to take another step forward this upcoming season. His three-point percentage increased to 40%, attempting 4.3 shots per game. All together, Barrett and Fournier averaged a combined 34.8 points per game.

The primary goal for both players is to improve their shots selection and creation for their teammates. Last season, Fournier posted a 37.2% rate for field goals made unassisted. He is not a traditional spot-up shooter like Reggie Bullock, which offers benefits to a team that needs to draw attention away from their best player in Randle.

Just the slightest advantage in communicating in a different language can be beneficial, which will likely improve the chemistry between RJ and Evan. Another interesting point to make is at Fournier’s assist rate has consistently improved throughout his career, and Barrett saw his average increase from 2.6 to 3.0 last season. If they can continue to improve in that category, they have the potential to be a fantastic scoring duo.

How Knicks’ RJ Barrett can make the jump to All-Star in 2021-22 season

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new york knicks, rj barrett

The New York Knicks are building something special after a surprising 2020-21 campaign that saw them reach the playoffs and secure the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference. The majority of their players have spent the entire off-season working diligently to improve their skills and come back even stronger in the second season under head coach Tom Thibodeau.

Aside from Julius Randle, Immanuel Quickley, and several other key pieces in the Knicks’ plans, one player who has the potential to elevate his status to All-Star is guard RJ Barrett. The youngster averaged 17.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, shot 44.1% from the field, and 40.1% from three-point range, a career-high. He also saw his free-throw success rate increase to nearly 75%, which was a huge improvement compared to his 61% rate during his rookie season. If he continues improving at this rate, he’s bound for serious All-Star consideration.

Barrett has spent his off-season working on his shot creation and dribbling, giving him more versatility in the paint and efficiency from mid-range. Barrett participated in The CEO of Pure Sweat Basketball, spending time with players like Joel Embiid, Bradley Beal, Jayson Tatum, and more.

If Barrett wants to take the step to All-Star, he must find ways to create shooting opportunities for himself rather than be a kick-out option in the corner. If he can draw significant attention away from defenders, opening up the floor for teammates like Randle, Kemba Walker, and Evan Fournier, his status will quickly begin to grow around the league.

Taking a look at his advanced statistics, Barrett scored 29.4% of his points from three-point range, 54.3% from two-point range, and only 7.0% from mid-range. Adding an effective shot from the elbow will give him an entirely new element to his game. It’s about adding diversity to his shot selection and keeping defenders unbalanced.

Barrett has done a great job creating shots for himself inside the paint, driving to the rim. He has a 64.7% rate regarding two-point field goals made unassisted. However, when you take a look at his three-point field goals made unassisted, he hovers at just 2.4%.

His overall percent of field goals made unassisted was 48.2% during last season’s campaign. If he increases that number to show he can score without others facilitating, his value will skyrocket. In addition, RJ will also draw more defenders toward him, which will maximize the Knicks’ other talents. He only averaged 3.0 assists last season, while Julius Randle posted a career-high of 6.0 assists per game. Ideally, Barrett increases that number which will directly benefit players like Randle, who operate in the paint and outside the perimeter.

At just 21-years-old, Barrett is headed into the third year of a four-year, $35.6 million rookie contract. The Knicks have the ability to pick up his club option next season and a qualifying offer at $14 million during the 2023-24 campaign. Fortunately, they have three more years to exercise Barrett’s potential, and he could end up being one of the best players on the team with a bit more refinement and experience.

3 bold Knicks predictions for the 2021-22 regular season

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new york knicks, rj barrett

The New York Knicks are entering the 2021-22 season with elevated expectations and plenty of talent to justify their goals. After earning the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference, the Knicks are looking to make an even deeper run this upcoming season, and signing Evan Fournier, and Kemba Walker should back up that assessment.

Let’s take a look at three bold predictions they could see several young players make an even bigger impact.

Three bold predictions for the Knicks next season:

1.) RJ Barrett will lead the team in 3-PT percentage

Last season, second-year shooting guard RJ Barrett ended up being one of the team’s best three-point shooters. He finished the season, hitting on 40% of his shots from three after connecting on 32% during his rookie campaign in 2019. Attempting 4.3 shots from range per game, he connected on 1.7, posting 17.6 total points. His corner three-point shot was lethal for a team that desperately needed him to improve from beyond on the rim.

Barrett ranked fifth on the team among players who averaged 10+ minutes per contest. He sat behind Alec Berks, Julius Randle, Derrick Rose, and Reggie Bullock. He was only 1.4% away from being the team’s top three-point shooter, and that is a goal he’s looking to accomplish this upcoming season. Working on his shot creation and shooting fundamentals, Barrett leading the team in that category, would see his value skyrocket at 21 years old.

2.) Immanuel Quickley will average 15+ points per game

Second air player Immanuel Quickley had himself a solid Summer League running point, averaging 20.2 points per game over 33.5 minutes. Quickley averaged 11.4 points last season over 19.4 minutes per game, and both of those statistics could see an increase next season. Shooting nearly 40% from the field and 39% from three-point range, Quickley proved he is an offensive weapon that is only hitting his stride at the NBA level.

However, during the Summer League, he only shot 33.7% and 24% from three. The sample size is extremely small over just five games, but he’s more than capable of averaging 15+ points per game, especially as Tom Thibodeau will look to get him involved.

Some might say Quickley scoring 15+ points isn’t a bold take, but the Knicks have a lot of mouths to feed this season, especially with the retention of Alec Burks and the signing of Kemba Walker. I wouldn’t forget about the drafting of Quentin Grimes either, who will earn minutes at shooting guard.

3.) Mitchell Robinson will win DPOY of the year

There’s nobody that believes in Mitchell Robinson more than himself and the front office, as he’s been vocal on social media propagating his hard work this off-season. Increasing his size and muscle mass, Robinson is optimistic he can win Defensive Player of the Year. As a lanky center who can guard the perimeter, Robinson is capable of being a star defensive player, but his primary struggle is remaining healthy. Robinson has never played over 66 games in a season, playing in just 31 last year with a broken foot and hand.

If he can remain consistent in the health category, Robinson can easily become one of the league’s most feared defenders. Improving his physicality in the paint will also give him more success against bigger, more imposing power forward and scoring centers. During his rookie year, Robinson blocked a career-high 2.4 shots per game. He will be looking to resurrect that version of himself — coincidentally, Mitch also played the most game of his career in that season. Momentum has proved to be a catalyst for his success.