The New York Knicks have never been a serious contender for quite some time now. Ever since the Orange and Blue traded Carmelo Anthony in 2017 and Kristaps Porzingis in 2019, basketball fans have very low expectations for their team to contend in the East. And with the disappointing performance of their young talent, like Kevin Knox II and Frank Ntilikina, things look pretty bleak for the Knicks. That is until they drafted RJ Barrett out of Duke last 2019.
Although the 3rd pick had a rough rookie season, the potential was very evident. During that time, Barrett logged 14.3 points, 2.6 assists, and five boards per game.
On the other hand, his success rate from beyond the arc and free throw percentage dampened Barrett’s hype among card enthusiasts. Plus, playing for a horrendous organization last season didn’t help the young star’s card stock.
This season can change everything for Barrett. New York has a lot of things going for it, such as the hiring of Tom Thibodeau to correct their culture and the addition of new rookies, like Obadiah Toppin and Immanuel Quickley. If the Knicks finally take the right step towards improving, Barrett’s card value will soon go up. Shown below are three solid reasons that will compel you to invest in his cards right away.
3. Barrett is steadily improving his numbers
If the Maple Mamba’s last season didn’t inspire confidence in the New York faithful, his performance at the start of this one may do the trick. Before the NBA was shut down, RJ Barrett played with a -4.3 box score as a shooting guard. Now, he’s averaging 16.8 points, 3.4 assists, and 7.4 rebounds in 36.9 minutes per game. Those figures translate to a -2.8 box score in the 14 games he played as the starting small forward for the Knicks this season.
Even if those numbers aren’t as high as most Knicks fans want, Barrett is taking the right steps towards becoming an unstoppable force in the Big Apple. He has the physical tools and size to take that leap in this season or the next. For sure, there’s no way to go but up when it comes to Barrett’s performance. It’d be wise to have his cards now before that happens.
2. Tom Thibodeau will bring out the best in Barrett
RJ Barrett was seen by most fans as a casualty of New York’s dysfunctional organization and coaching woes. As a result, his first season in the league got off on a very bumpy start. It doesn’t help that Zion Williamson and Ja Morant thrived during their first year while RJB’s situation with the Knicks was less-desirable than his contemporaries. This is where Tom Thibodeau comes in.
Apart from imploring his teams to play more defense, Thibodeau also has a reputation to push his players more than other coaches do. This is evident with the huge minutes Jimmy Butler, Derrick Rose, and Karl Anthony-Towns played under Thibodeau in recent seasons. The same thing is happening to Barrett with the Knicks right now.
The increase of RJB’s playing time will help speed up his development and make a better player out of him. As a result, his feel for the game and shooting will eventually improve as the season progresses. And with Thibodeau as his coach, you can expect Barrett will do his best every time he’s on the court.
1. He possesses the grit inside to make his game work
If you take a look at RJ Barrett, you would see there’s a developing narrative to his career. As mentioned above, he is often overshadowed by Williamson and Morant in terms of accomplishments and win shares. Even those who were drafted after him, like Tyler Herro and Coby White, enjoy more hype among fans. The low expectations surrounding Barrett will only fuel him more to turn his present reputation around.
This is quite evident when Barrett erupted with 26 points and eight rebounds in a victory against the Indiana Pacers. The Maple Mamba took over the game and led the Knicks to this much-needed win.
Barrett was like a man possessed as he drained all of his three attempts from the arc and created plays for his teammates. That quiet grit was showcased throughout the whole game and it’s a good sign for Knicks fans in the card community.
Barrett’s card prices are somewhat in the middle right now. They’re not as high as Williamson’s or Morant’s but they’re not lower than his other batchmates, like Rui Hachimura or De’Andre Hunter. Since this is the case, there’s no better time than now to invest in RJ Barrett cards.
With the potential to become a true New York legend, it’s better to get his cards sooner than later.
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