How RJ Barrett has become a strong 2-way player for the Knicks

The New York Knicks have seen growth from many players this season, and perhaps none have been as encouraging as 2019’s 3rd overall pick RJ Barrett. The sophomore has taken major strides in multiple areas of his game.

Of course, the entire Knicks team has looked much improved this season. Tom Thibodeau and his coaching staff have taken over a team that is largely the same roster as the year prior and turned them into a defensive juggernaut that currently sits 4th in the Eastern Conference. The team’s defensive rating of 107.4 ranks 2nd in the NBA.

RJ Barrett plays the 2nd most minutes per-game of anyone on the Knicks – He’s played a crucial role in the team’s success. What’s so encouraging about Barrett’s development is not just his numbers this season, but how far he’s come in just one offseason.

Knicks: Looking Back at RJ Barrett’s Rookie Season

RJ Barrett and the Knicks’ 2019-20 season was tumultuous. Multiple head coaches, a disorganized roster, and a lot of losing – It was never easy for Barrett in his rookie campaign. If you’re just checking box scores, you would’ve seen plenty of ugly shooting percentages from Barrett. It wasn’t just the shooting percentages that were discouraging.

When trying to find justifications for Barrett in his advanced metrics, those numbers were just as scary, both on offense and defense. On defense, his defensive box plus/minus (BPM uses a player’s box score information, position, and the team’s overall performance to estimate the player’s contribution in points above league average per 100 possessions played.) ranked 167th out of 187 eligible players.

You could say the Knicks’ defense wasn’t great last season, which is true, but Barrett’s impact on that side of the ball was especially negative. For context, Mitchell Robinson ranked 25/187 and Elfrid Payton 66/187 in the same DBPM metric last season.

Barrett struggled to find his footing. Of course, he didn’t have much help around him, but he simply couldn’t stay in front of quicker guards, and he frequently looked lost looking for his assignment. It’s a different story in 2020-21.

Knicks: How RJ Barrett has become a steady defender on the wing

Barrett’s play on defense this season is a testament to two things: His own personal dedication to defense, and the remarkable job this coaching staff has done. Barrett didn’t undergo some kind of physical transformation this offseason. The players around him are not all that different from last season, but he’s gone from a liability to a weapon on defense.

At 6’6 with a 6’10 wingspan, Barrett always had the size that could project into becoming an elite defender on the wing. What’s different now is that Barrett is properly using his size. Barrett isn’t as fast as some of the guards he has to defend, but he can wreak havoc by smothering them with his size. When guarding perimeter players, he’s learned how to stay back and let his long reach disrupt the ball handler should they opt for a jump shot.

This improved patience on defense allows Barrett to maximize his other biggest asset on his man-to-man defense: His physical strength. Barrett came into the league with strength beyond his years and now he gets to showcase it with his defense on a nightly basis. Barrett consistently overpowers his opponents, and as long as he has solid positioning on them, it’s going to be incredibly hard for them to break through his brick-wall defense.

What makes the leap all the more exciting is the fact that Barrett’s defense isn’t usually on opposing role players – He usually takes on the toughest perimeter assignment. This season, Barrett has been the Knicks tasked with guarding the Kawhi Leonards, the Jimmy Butlers, and the Donovan Mitchells. He’s been soaking up every minute and learning from it.

The combination of technique, strength, and length also allows Barrett to switch and guard multiple positions. He can hang with guards, wings, and even some power-forwards. His versatility on defense is going to be an asset for the Knicks for years to come. Currently, among all players listed as a small forward or shooting guard, Barrett ranks 11th in DRPM (Defensive real plus-mins). It’s a huge transformation in just one offseason.

RJ Barrett came into this league with sky-high expectations, and here he is in year-2 playing heavy minutes with massive responsibilities. The coaching staff and the front office clearly trust him to take on the challenge. Barrett’s dedication to defense and team-basketball is a quality not all 20-year-olds have. With his attitude, he’s only going to get better.