When the New York Knicks selected RJ Barrett with the No. 3 overall selection in the 2019 NBA Draft, they likely assumed his Summer League debut would be more glamorous than it has been. Unfortunately for both Barrett and the Knicks, the young player's first two Summer League games have been anything but good.
According to one NBA scout, though, there shouldn’t be anything to worry about going forward.
Speaking to SNY regarding Barrett’s struggles, one veteran scout noted that while it would be nice to see Barrett dominate, it isn’t indicative of much.
“Of course the Knicks would like to see him come out and dominate in these games against guys who won't be in the NBA. That's what you'd expect from the No. 3 pick. But there's no reason to sound any alarms,” the scout said. “He's 19 and this is what Summer League – and his rookie season, really – is for. It's about development and getting comfortable on an NBA floor.”
While the Summer League hardly means much in terms of how players will translate — Trae Young had a pretty poor Summer League last year, if you recall — it’s still not fun to see players struggle. So far, Barrett is shooting a very bad 7-for-33 during his two Summer League games, with 10 turnovers and just two assists to his credit.
Despite the poor stats, many of the scouts that SNY spoke to regarding Barrett’s play haven’t been phased too much. Although he seems to be stiff in his Summer League performances, many of the scouts praise his ability to get clean looks from the perimeter, and the generally great motor that Barrett has when he is playing.
Thankfully for the Knicks, the Summer League isn’t a true barometer for how a player will end up in the NBA, and hopefully, for him, Barrett will continue to develop as he plays more.
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