The New York Knicks were able to get their first look at shooting guard RJ Barrett at the Las Vegas Summer League. It appears scouts around the league are underwhelmed with what they saw from the third overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
RJ Barrett was one of the few lottery picks to make an appearance in Las Vegas. According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, one NBA scout reportedly does not feel he is going to be an All-Star:
“When you pick [at No.] 3, you’re trying to get an All-Star, and he definitely doesn’t look like that,’’ one NBA scout said. “But he looked like he’ll be an NBA player for a long time.’’
Of course, it is still far too early to determine whether RJ Barrett will one day become an All-Star. There is no question he endured his fair share of struggles in Las Vegas early on. Fortunately, he was able to end on a high note by nearly recording a triple-double in the Knicks' win over the Washington Wizards. Regardless, it does not seem to be enough to put other teams on notice about what New York was able to bring in.
There is undoubtedly a certain sense of pressure that comes with being taken so early in the draft. Not only will Barrett be expected to make an immediate impact on this struggling Knicks franchise, but he is also tasked with helping them to sustain an improved level of performance for years to come. It is safe to say that he has already garnered come critics this offseason. He will have ample opportunities to silence the doubters in the 2019-20 NBA season.
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