Knicks rookie RJ Barrett received little love in the Rookie of the Year voting.
Thanks to one third place vote New York Knicks youngster RJ Barrett finished 8th in the 2019-20 NBA Rookie of the Year voting revealed by the league on Thursday.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant took home the honor of the league’s best rookie with 99 out of 100 first place votes—the preseason’s presumptive ROY candidate Zion Williamson stealing the other top vote despite only playing in 24 games. Kendrick Nunn from Miami and Brandon Clarke from Memphis rounded out the top four in voting.
It was a strange season for rookies as the draft order seemed to provide little indication of first year performance, outside of Morant. Only half of the top vote getters were selected in the lottery, with Clarke drafted late in the first round (21st), Eric Paschall in the second round (41st), and both Nunn and Terrence Davis undrafted.
Ja Morant wins Rookie of the Year. Kendrick Nunn finishes second, Zion Williamson third: pic.twitter.com/bjeG6rplXt
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) September 3, 2020
When the Knicks were stumbling through the 2018-19 season under David Fizdale, the consolation prize was supposed to arrive in the form of multiple superstar players in free agency, or at least an instant shot in the arm out of the draft.
We all know what happened with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. And while there are always arguments about the ordering of rookie candidates in end-of-year voting, let’s just say Knicks fans weren’t dreaming of an 8th place finish from the player their team would select in the 2019 NBA Draft.
After landing the third overall pick, the Knicks selected Barrett one pick shy of Morant and two picks after Zion. New York had a 27.4 percent chance of landing either the first or second pick last June.
Barrett played in 56 games during the coronavirus-shortened season, averaging 14.3 points, 5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, while struggling with his shooting. An issue in college that carried over into the pros, the former Duke star connected on only 32 percent of his threes, and his true shooting percentage, which takes into account the value of twos versus threes, ranked 123rd out of 125 players who attempted at least 10 shots per game.
The 20-year-old rookie wasn’t placed in the best situation to quickly develop his game, playing for a team that started the season 4-18 before changing coaches. He still has plenty of upside in his game and should be helped by the mentorship of veteran coach Tom Thibodeau.
Eight must be the Knicks’ number right now, as they will select eighth in the 2020 NBA Draft. Based off this year’s rookie results, perhaps they will find a steal without needing to be on the clock in the top few picks.