Amid the New York Knicks' success this season, it's understandable to lay all the praise on forward Julius Randle. He's clearly the Knicks' best player, leading them in almost all statistical categories, not to mention being named to his first All-Star selection. But basketball is a team sport. Even Randle has pointed this out in almost all of his interviews. As such, we should expect Randle to continue his elite performance in the Knicks' first postseason appearance since 2013. But we should also keep an eye on second-year man RJ Barrett, who's become a foundational part of the squad.
Barrett's first season in the NBA was replete with expectations that were not met simply because they were unrealistic. Knicks fans were desperate to bring back the glory to the proud franchise but it was unfair to place all the responsibilities on a young player like Barrett. The Duke product, however, was also smart enough not to be swallowed alive by the noise. Even as a top prospect, he knows that it would take him a couple of years to develop. His second season in the NBA seems to be that first step to basketball superstardom.
Barrett's statistics speak for themselves. He's now shooting at 44.4 percent from the field, a remarkable improvement from his 40.2 percent last season. From downtown, he's currently at 40.3 percent from 32.0 percent in his rookie year. From 14.3 points per game, he's currently at 17.7 points a night. But there's more to Barrett than just his numbers. Coaches, scouts, and executives across the league have noticed the 20-year-old's exploits.
Charlotte Hornets coach James Borrego was asked to identify where he has seen growth from RJ Barrett this season, and he was quick to give an answer (via Tim Bontemps of ESPN).
“His shooting. You can start there. Just the ability to shoot the ball now. He looks a lot more comfortable, more confident in his shot. He's made a lot more plays. I think his playmaking has really taken a step there, and a lot of that comes out of your confidence in shooting the ball.”
From the same story, an anonymous team executive, however, said Barrett has thrived because of Randle's superstar play. He does not view Barrett as a franchise-level star. While Knicks fans might take this as an attack on the young gun, they shouldn't. Mainly because this is what makes him the X-factor for the Knicks. Come the NBA Playoffs, expect opposing defenses to fully collapse on Randle. And just like in the regular season, the do-it-all forward will keep on finding Barrett who's oozing with shooting confidence right now. Fans should expect an easy 15-20 points per night from Barrett in the postseason.
It certainly helps that coach Tom Thibodeau is boosting his minutes. The gruff-voiced Thibodeau is notorious for fielding his starters too much. But that's only because he trusts them to perform at a high level all night. Barrett is third in the NBA in minutes with 36.9 per night after the All-Star break. Interestingly, his three-point shooting clip also improved to 42.9 percent since then. While one could argue that this will eventually normalize the more he plays, we should also note that Thibodeau's full trust is there. And not many 20-year-olds have earned the trust of the veteran tactician.
The 2020-21 season has been a very memorable one for the previously languishing Knicks. It's the end to the nearly 10-year drought marked by frustrations and doubts. Finally, Knicks fans will have something to look forward to in the coming seasons. It's understandable to give all the limelight to Randle or even Thibodeau. But don't be surprised if RJ Barrett starts creeping in. His first NBA Playoffs experience may just catapult him into a superstar.
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