Knicks: 3 amazing statistical feats from New York’s latest win

RJ Barrett accomplishes a rare statistical feat

It’s hard to believe that RJ Barrett still hasn’t played in 82 games as a New York Knicks player. But with last season cut short due to the pandemic, he has only suited up for 63 games in the NBA.

And the 2019 lottery pick is showing why fans who already gave up on him might want to rethink their assessment.

As the Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks to improve to a surprising 4-3 record on the young season, Barrett was a catalyst. He scored 26 points on 10-19 shooting, pulled down 11 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists.

Why is that stat line so special?

The last New York Knick to put up a stat line with numbers like that in their second season was Patrick Ewing in 1987. The last three Knicks to post at least 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists within their first two seasons were Ewing, Bill Cartwright, and Walt Frazier.

The Knicks haven’t had a lot of success with young players on their roster over the past several decades. Part of that was due to their inability to keep draft picks early during James Dolan’s ownership. And recently, they have failed to finish high enough in the lottery to secure a player with Barrett’s upside.

But they have RJ now. And the 20-year-old is showing he has plenty of game to offer in the NBA. While he needs to show more consistency, overall he was averaging 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists entering Monday’s play.