New York Knicks starting rookie shooting-guard RJ Barrett has been locked-in for the most part. Barrett’s competitive nature is fun to watch and his will on the court rubs off on his teammates. He loses himself in the game and it’s a beautiful thing to witness.
RJ Barrett’s ability to focus on the game at hand whether his shot is falling or not is priceless for a 19-year-old. Hopefully, his aggressive and intense play will rub off on Kevin Knox II.
ESPN’s NBA Draft analyst Mike Schmitz stated the following.
“Because of his competitive nature he does some of the little things you don’t always see from star player.â€Barrett is at his best functioning as a jumbo lead guard…..although wired to score has vision in the open court locating shooters and cutters alike.â€
RJ Barrett’s basketball IQ is also important for his style because it will eventually cause his presence on the court to make his teammates better. Before coming into the NBA, Barrett’s fiercely competitive nature earned him the nickname ” The Maple Mamba” due to his approach to competition and the similar competitiveness to former Laker Kobe Bryant.
Overall, many greats who’ve played the game of basketball at a high level possessed an extremely high level of competitiveness and Barrett definitely fits the mold. The rookie is wired differently from most and it shows just by the way the 19-year-old carries himself in the Knick uniform on and off the basketball court. As Barrett continues to grow and mature as a professional, the Knicks better look to surround the Canadian native with shooting on this talent.