2019 NBA Draft profile: Duke forward R.J. Barrett
By David Barr
Strengths
R.J. Barrett benefits directly from his physical tools. His physicality on drives to the baskets allows him to score through contact and get to the free throw line consistently. From a size and strength standpoint, Barrett has the ability to guard multiple positions. He’ll likely be able to guard 1-4 at the NBA level.
Offensively, Barrett dominates in transition. He is extremely fast in the open court, with elite change-of-direction speed. Along with his scoring prowess in transition, Barrett sees the floor well and finds open teammates when the offense is playing at a frantic pace. When he gets to the basket, he displays excellent body control at the rim.
The development of a strong post-up game is inevitable for Barrett. He already possesses a strong repertoire of fakes, pivots, and counters.
Barrett crashes the glass aggressively, averaging 7.6 rebounds per game in his lone season at Duke. His rebounding can open up a lot of opportunities for his team, as it allows him to be the drive-starter in transition. He can beat defenses down the court in the open floor even off a rebound, so his continued focus on crashing the glass is essential to his success.
Barrett marries a high basketball IQ with a high motor, which will aid his game when the talent begins to top out down the line.