New York Knicks forward RJ Barrett hasn't been receiving much media mileage as much as his draft batchmates Zion Williamson and Ja Morant. But as far as Barrett is concerned, he's focused on just playing his game.
Barrett was the third pick of the 2019 NBA Draft behind Williamson and Morant. The Memphis Grizzlies guard was crowned Rookie of the Year and continues to show off his athletic talents. The New Orleans Pelicans bulldozer, meanwhile, is showing why he's the next big thing, making it to his first NBA All-Star Game this season. While Barrett hasn't achieved accolades yet, he said he's more concerned about helping the Knicks as a whole (via Ian Begley of SNY).
“My game speaks for itself. I mean you can look at our numbers, you can look at our team’s success. It doesn’t really matter. As long as I keep getting better as a player, I’ll be happy.”
After their win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, the Knicks improved to 27-27 for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference. It's been a while but the Knicks truly have a shot at making the postseason for the first time since the 2012-13 campaign.
Most analysts credit first-year coach Tom Thibodeau for implementing the perfect system. But the Knicks mentor himself acknowledged Barrett's hard work.
“The shooting piece has been huge. And then he's finishing is vastly improved as well. His all-round play has been terrific. His work ethic is top of the line, his attitude and approach are top of the line. He's a team-first guy. He’s 20 years old and he's only going to get better.”
The 20-year-old RJ Barrett, who's putting up strong numbers in his second year, may be young, but he has the poise, confidence, and professionalism of a veteran. People can compare him to his batchmates, but he will never lay his eyes off the bigger prize.
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