New York Knicks: 3 predictions for R.J. Barrett’s rookie season

2. Handling the ball will be R.J.’s job

An aspect of his game that he can certainly boast about is his all-around style of play. Barrett can score, rebound and distribute the basketball, thus enabling head coach David Fizdale to use him in a variety of ways.

Though Barrett will either be the team’s shooting guard or small forward, handling the basketball might become a “chore” of his right away. During his Duke days, R.J. would spend an enormous amount of time with the ball in his hands, being the centerpiece of the team’s offense more often than not.

Throughout the entire collegiate season, Barrett’s assists would account for a total of 27 percent of the team’s entire assist total. The fact that he did that while leading the team in scoring makes it an even more noteworthy accomplishment.

The verification of his all-round style of play was without a doubt solidified in February, in a game where Barrett would record the fourth triple-double in Duke history and only the second in Mike Krzyzewski’s 1,476 career games coached.

So why would a team of grown men let a 19-year-old kid handle the basketball for them? Well for starters, these New York Knicks do not have a traditional point guard on their roster, someone to carry the ball and be the on-court maestro to Fizdale’s symphonies.

Elfrid Payton, one of the team’s newest free agency additions, is known to be a very skilled passer, though his inability to excel at any other aspect of the game might be enough to keep him on the bench during crucial moments.