New York Knicks rookie RJ Barrett recently sat down with Ben Detrick of GQ, with the 19-year-old opening up about some of his idols in the sport.
First off, Barrett conceded that in his mind, there is no one greater than Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan. However, growing up, the former Duke standout admitted that he looked up to LeBron James:
“I definitely think Michael Jordan was the greatest to ever do it,” he said. “But in my era, I just loved the way LeBron could do everything. He could pass, he could score whenever he wants, he could play defense.”
Barrett went on to say that at this point in his career, he has been watching a lot of retired back-to-back MVP winner Steve Nash, as well as the Houston Rockets' new backcourt duo of James Harden and Russell Westbrook:
“Recently, I’ve been watching a lot of Steve Nash, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook, guys that use the pick and roll and set people up,” he added.
Barrett's choice of players to watch might actually give us a peek of what type of mold the 6-foot-7 swingman wants to emulate as he embarks on his NBA career.
When asked about Nash, however, Barrett was more than happy to talk about the Hall of Famer, who is not only a fellow Canadian, but also happens to be Barrett's godfather:
“Steve Nash is just so smart,” he said. “He’s one of the most down-to-earth people you’ll ever meet. When you talk to him, you would never know he’s a two-time MVP and a Hall of Famer.”
Big things are expected from Barrett this coming season, with the Knicks using their third overall pick on this highly touted prospect.
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