It’s extremely important for New York Knicks rookie RJ Barrett to develop into a solid and impactful plus defender. The former Duke University star will be in great hands with Knick legend Bernard King within reach for advice and coach David Fizdale at the helm along with his talent development staff in training camp.
The defense will catapult RJ Barrett very fast in this league filled with scoring wing players. At 6’7″ tall with a 6’11” wingspan and 210 pounds of lean muscle, the sky is the limit for Barrett defensively considering he turned 19-years-old about four months ago. Barrett is already a physical specimen and defense is what Coach Fizdale is hammering into the potential future Knick star.
It’s very inspiring to hear that RJ Barrett is working his tail off defensively because it’s a sign that he acknowledges how important that end of the floor really is. New York City is a blue-collar town that loves defense and Barrett understands why learning the defensive concepts is so crucial for his development.
During the scrimmage at Columbia University on October 5th, RJ Barrett displayed very good athleticism on cuts to the basket, one which led to a ferocious two-handed dunk. The Knicks rookie also played point guard for his assigned scrimmage team and showed flashes as a floor general due to Dennis Smith Jr. being held out of the scrimmage due to a minor ailment. The maple mamba missed a few perimeter shots and also a few free-throws. The field goal is also an important metric Barrett must continue to work on. However, with RJ Barrett’s work ethic, shooting will develop in due time alongside maturity which he already shows at such a young age. The sky is the limit for the first-round selection by Scott Perry and the Knicks.
Overall, the Knicks are happy with their young talented 3rd overall selection in the 2019 NBA Draft. RJ Barrett is working hard and the NBA game might slow down for him sooner than most think. The defense will be key in the young stud’s career and he is underneath the right tutelage in David Fizdale and other battle-tested vets on the Knicks roster.