Over just three games, the New York Knicks have already shown us where their weaknesses lie, and ‘who’ their strengths tend to be throughout a game.
To start the year against the San Antonio Spurs, veteran point guard Elfrid Payton put on a defensive show with five steals, solidifying himself as the go-to starter for the Knicks. However, the player that has most impressed is none other than rookie, RJ Barrett.
The Duke product has averaged 21 points per game in three games, including 2.7 assists and five total assists. He has been active all over the court, showing his hustle and tenacity towards the rim. Nobody expected Barrett to start his first season with a bang, considering his struggles in the preseason.
Following the Knicks’ 118-95 loss to the Boston Celtics on Saturday night, head coach David Fizdale commented on Barrett’s 26 point (9-20 shooting), seven-rebound performance.
“He’s a stud, that’s the only way I can put it. He’s a stud,” Fizdale told reporters postgame.
The New York Knicks have a potential star in their presence:
The loss to Boston was the first time in his young career in which he led the team in scoring, and we can expect him to do that plenty more times this season. The positives are just bleeding from Barrett’s game — his shooting as been stellar, especially from downtown.
He’s knocking down .538 percent of three-point shots (4.3 attempts per game). Also, his field goal percentage is fantastic at .510. We can expect these numbers to crash down to reality eventually, but his hot start to the season provides optimism for a Knicks team that’s in dire need of a true superstar.
RJ’s priority this season is to develop and refine his abilities because he will play a significant part in convincing established superstars to bring their talents to the Big Apple. The organization didn’t have the effective lure this past offseason, leaving them with Julius Randle and Marcus Morris, two quality veterans, but not game-changing players.
Barrett’s influence will only continue to grow in size, and he’s aware the future lies on his shoulders. So far, so good, RJ.