NY Knicks: Two Superstar Comparisons for RJ Barrett

NY Knicks’ RJ Barrett Offensive Comparison – DeMar DeRozan

Why This Player?

There are a few reasons why RJ Barrett should study the offensive game of Demar DeRozan and use it as a model as he moves forward in his career.

So many fans (me included) argued that the next evolution of RJ Barrett’s game was to further develop his three-point shot. It’s even part of the canned commentary about him in 2k (from Greg Anthony if I recall correctly).

While there has been some considerable improvement, especially over this recent stretch, Barrett is still just a 34.8% three-point shooter per Basketball-Reference.

While that figure dwarfs DeRozan’s 28.4% career mark, a look at DeRozan’s stats shows you that this doesn’t really matter.

Per Cleaning the Glass, DeRozan has spent the majority of his career in the upper half of the league in Points Per Shot Attempt.

Despite missing the ability to really threaten from that third level, he plays efficiently. There’s also a ton of overlap already in their shot charts.

RJ Barrett should also study DeRozan’s current game because DeRozan has seen a serious uptick in how he sets up his teammates. DeRozan has averaged at least five assists per game each of the last four years.

What Does RJ Need to Cover?

RJ Barrett needs to cover DeRozan’s shot selection.

I’m not arguing that Barrett needs to give up the three-ball entirely or that he needs to pattern his entire game after Derozan. What I would argue, and what stats demonstrate, is that DeRozan knows which shots to take.

According to Cleaning the Glass, DeRozan takes 58% of his shots from the midrange where he is in the 80th percentile in terms of shot accuracy. He knows his game and he leans on his strengths.

RJ Barrett does some of this. He takes most of his shots from the rim which is where he has the highest accuracy, but there are some spots where Barrett needs to continue to develop his shot selection.

Barrett’s second-most accurate shot area is the corner three where he lands in the 57th percentile according to Cleaning the Glass, but that only accounts for about 10 percent of his shot attempts (10th percentile).

Juxtapose that with being in the 84th percentile in midrange shots taken while only ranking in the 43rd percentile in the accuracy of those shots and a picture of a shooter still trying to really figure out his spots.

Some of this will develop with time. As RJ Barrett continues to log minutes, he will continue to solidify which shots are his shots.