New York Knicks: 3 most surprising players this season
By Duncan Smith
3 most surprising New York Knicks: RJ Barrett
How many times must we be reminded of this? Giving up on a 19-year-old rookie is a losing proposition, and that’s a lazy mistake too many fans and media members make every year. RJ Barrett is the most recent example of a player to take a year-two leap and leave detractors feeling (and looking) silly.
Barrett didn’t have a bad rookie season last year after getting drafted third overall, but with Zion Williamson and Ja Morant going before him and plenty of productive rookies getting selected after him, it wasn’t a season to write home about. He averaged 14.3 points and 5.0 rebounds, played 30.4 minutes in 56 games with 55 starts, shot 40.2 percent from the floor and 32.0 percent from 3-point range.
All numbers and indicators suggested that he may just be another NBA player, which is fine, but not exactly what you want from the third overall pick in any draft.
He’s shown a whole lot more of what built his draft pedigree in the first place this season. His averages are up nearly across the board with 17.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and like Randle, he’s turned into a sharpshooter. Barrett is shooting 39.8 percent from 3-point range, and since a slow start to the season, he’s shooting 44.8 percent from long distance over his last 55 games and 237 attempts.
From being just another guy on a 21-win team a year ago to being somebody who could dramatically impact a playoff series, RJ Barrett has been another massive surprise for the New York Knicks.