New York Knicks’ youngster RJ Barrett has had an up and down rookie season. It’s been hard for him to find consistent growth in a team surrounded by chaos. However, since the All-Star break, RJ has upped his game.
One area where the entire New York Knicks as a team have struggled is perimeter shooting. RJ, in particular, has been under scrutiny for his low shooting percentages. On the season he is shooting 32% from 3 and an abysmal 61.4% from the free-throw line.
Those aren’t great numbers for a perimeter player. However, RJ seemed like he was beginning to show some progress.
His shooting has looked better.
RJ looks as though he’s gained some more confidence with his shot. His 4.0 3-point field goal attempts per game in his last 8 games is a slight uptick from what he averages on the season. More importantly, he’s shot them at 37.5%. His free-throw percentage in his last 8 games is 68.3%. Not great, but better.
While the jump shot is still a work in progress, RJ has shown all season long he can slash his way into the paint. He’s been taking high-quality shots. His field goal percentage has spiked to a terrific 48.2% in his last 8 games. He’s put points on the board, posting just over 18 points per game.
His playmaking is also improving. During this 8 game stretch, he’s averaged 3.5 assists per game. Overall, RJ looked a lot more comfortable in the weeks right before the NBA season was suspended.
It may be a small sample size, but 8 games is a nice chunk of time to examine some numbers. RJ looks like he’s making important strides. Unfortunately, the league canceled play right as he was heating up.