RJ Barrett has come into his own for the New York Knicks. After a rocky rookie season, the 2019 third overall pick has been a revelation for Tom Thibodeau, making huge strides in his decision-making and shooting to make him a bona-fide contributor to the team. He's continued his improvements into Year 3, averaging 19.2 points on 47% shooting from the field and a scorching-hot 40% from deep.
For Barrett, though, this has all been pre-determined for him. In an interview for the New York Post, the Knicks guard told the interviewer why he thinks he's destined for greatness.
“I think that’s just what I was born to be. There’s something inside me that I know that I’m destined for greatness, I know that I’m destined for more. I think the work ethic that my family has instilled in me, it’s always gonna give me a chance to get better, it’s always gonna give me a chance to prove and show who I am. I’m very competitive, so I think all those things together, somehow, some way I just know that I’m gonna make it.”
Bold talk coming from a third-year player, but Barrett's body of work reflect his statement. One of the bigger criticisms of Barrett's game in his rookie season was his shooting from outside. The then-Knicks rookie shot a below-average 32% from deep on low volume, despite being touted as a good shooter. Barrett then came into his sophomore season with a much-improved jumper, finally fulfilling the predictions of Knicks fans for him being a lights-out shooter.
It remains to be seen what RJ Barrett's ceiling is in the league. Whatever ceiling pundits set on him though, you can bet that the Knicks guard will smash through it, working his butt off to be the best he could possibly be.
Follow Us
Subscribe