New York Knicks: Predicting the 2020-21 statistical leaders

Points: RJ Barrett

After a rookie season that can be perfectly described as an “okay” one, RJ Barrett meets all the criteria to have the major leap in his career in 2020-21.

Bad team? Check.

Limited scoring options? Check.

A head coach with a history of his young stars breaking out? Check.

For the same reasons as mentioned in Robinson’s case, the limited chances that are bound to be given to Julius Randle will act as a major plus to Barrett’s case of becoming a candidate for the league’s Most Improved Player award.

Barrett has been alerting the basketball world of his talent since his high school days. The fact that he led a stacked Duke team in scoring while having Zion Williamson and Cam Reddish as his teammates, helps to make the case for him being the most potent scorer in his draft class.

In a 2019-20 Knicks season full of changes, Randle was the one to lead the team in scoring at the end of the season, though Marcus Morris held that crown up until the moment of his trade to the LA Clippers.

So here we have it. Morris is out of the team and Randle will either follow in his footsteps or see a big decrease in his minutes by virtue of a New York native that has already become a fan-favorite, Obi Toppin, who seems to be “toppin” the people’s wishlist for Christmas.

Barrett is already looking extra-sexy in the preseason games that the New York Knicks have featured in. Is there any reason to believe that these positive signs will not carry over once the regular season tips-off in about a week?