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WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 10: RJ Barrett #9 of the New York Knicks in action against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on March 10, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 10: RJ Barrett #9 of the New York Knicks in action against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on March 10, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Knicks Rumors: NBA Insiders Believe RJ Barrett Has All-Star Potential

Megan Armstrong
Mar 22, 2020

RJ Barrett entered the NBA with high expectations when the New York Knicks drafted him third overall in last year's draft.ย 

According to what league sources have told Marc Berman of theย New York Post, it's way too soon to give up hope that Barrett will fulfill his potential.

"His top attributesโ€”an instinctive knack to use his body to wiggle to the basket, a consistently high motor and a serious-minded work ethicโ€”have several NBA personnel people not giving up on Barrett as a potential All-Star," Berman wrote Sunday night. "Not at age 19."

"RJ Barrett is not going to fail," a former NBA head coach told Berman. "He's got too much size, too much ability shooting, driving. His perimeter shooting and free-throw shootingโ€”that will get better with time. We all know that. That's what happens with NBA players."

Barrett was averaging 14.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.0 steals in 30.4 minutes across 56 games (55 starts) before the NBA suspended the 2019-20 season because of the coronavirus pandemic. He's second on the Knicks in scoring behind Julius Randle (19.5).

However, Barrett shot just 40.2 percent from the field, 32.0 percent from three and 61.4 percent from the free-throw line. Those numbers are similar to hisย shooting statisticsย in his lone season at Duke.

The Knicks have not been a breeding ground for success in quite some time. This season has seen a lot of upheaval in the front office, which doesn't necessarily create an environment conducive to developing young talent.

New Yorkย firedย head coach David Fizdale on Dec. 6 after getting off to a 4-18 start. That was followed by team president Steve Mills'ย firingย on Feb. 4. Mike Miller has been acting as the interim head coach, while Leon Rose wasย hiredย as the new president earlier this month.

"The Knicks scouting staff has been instructed the top priority is a scoring point guard on whom to use their lottery pick," Bermanย reportedย in mid-February. "The second priority, likely for the Clippers' pick, is a shooting guard who has three-point rangeโ€”something rookie RJ Barrett has not shown."

At 21-45โ€”the fourth-worst mark in the Eastern Conference and sixth-worst in the leagueโ€”the Knicks figure to have a high lottery pick for the second straight year.

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