New York Knicks: David Fizdale scoffs at ‘load management’ for RJ Barrett

After RJ Barrett played 41 minutes in a blowout loss to the Sacramento Kings, New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale dismissed any thought of “load management” for his star rookie.

Who expected the “load management” concept to become a topic of conversation for the New York Knicks, let alone this early in the 2019-20 NBA season?

Rookie RJ Barrett played 41 minutes in Sunday’s 21-point loss to the Sacramento Kings, which featured a double-digit deficit for most of the game. It was New York’s most disparaging defeat of the season, falling to a 1-5 team that dealt with injuries and poor play. However, the rookie’s playing time consumed the post-game conversation.

Per Marc Berman of the New York Post, Knicks coach David Fizdale was unhappy with the idea of “load management” being applied to Barrett, a 19-year-old rookie who never experienced the rigors of an 82-game NBA season.

"“We got to get off this load-management crap,’’ a surly Fizdale said. “Latrell Sprewell averaged 42 minutes for a season. This kid is 19. Drop it already.’’"

Barrett has averaged 37 minutes per game in seven appearances, after taking significant time in the preseason, as well.

The numbers are there; Barrett has posted 18.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 steals on 43.4 percent shooting and 35.7 percent on three-pointers. At a young age, though, in his first season, it creates questions if he can hold up with this large dosage over the next five months, especially if the Knicks continue to sputter and Fizdale returns his focus to the youth.

Perhaps Barrett does not slow down. Ex-NBA player Damon Stoudemire does not see issues with Fizdale’s use of the Rookie of the Year contender:

The New York Daily News‘ Stefan Bondy compared it to some of the NBA’s best players of the past three decades, and how they did not falter amid heavy playing time:

With seven games, maybe it is too early to decide if Barrett’s heavy minutes will take a toll. He has held up so far, including the preseason games, but the marathon, not the sprint, lies ahead. The 2019-20 campaign is not even one-eighth through, with 74 games remaining on a schedule that ends in April.

This conversation will linger in the meantime, unless Barrett pushes his play forward, and the New York Knicks find the win column more than once. Walking out victoriously cures all, but losses highlight everything. Barrett, Fizdale and others will have to deal with that, for now.