NY Knicks: The “Win-at-all-costs” mindset of RJ Barrett
By Adam Kester
The NY Knicks find themselves in a tightly contested Eastern Conference playoff race where every game can make a big difference in standings. Led by Julius Randle and RJ Barrett, the team has been battling to stay in the mix. It’s the time of year where injuries pile up, players have to step into bigger roles, and the wear and tear of an NBA season begins to permeate through the league. There are no excuses.
The NY Knicks have had some opportunities to take down the top dogs of the Eastern Conference but came up agonizingly short every time. The Knicks lost to the 76ers earlier in the week in a game where many fans, and players, felt cheated. The team lost in overtime – with just over 5 seconds left, Julius Randle was charged with a phantom off-ball foul, gifting the 76ers two free throws to take the lead and ultimately win the game. Many of us were rightfully upset with the outcome.
RJ Barrett’s reaction? “I just want to win. Referees or no referees, we got to win the game.’’
NY Knicks News: RJ Barrett’s Winning Mentality
Barrett has always been a promising prospect, but it was hard to project his future after a rookie season where he was playing on one of the worst teams in the NBA. While his growth as a player has been evident since the start of his sophomore season, it’s his recent play that’s seen him start to cement himself as one of the game’s top young players.
We can get into Barrett’s improved shooting and other statistical areas of his game, but let’s focus on some of the mental components of RJ Barrett’s game. He carries himself with a swagger that not many 20-year-olds-have – He’s a silent assassin.
"We just have to continue with the next man up mindset ... we're feeling confident."
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 20, 2021
— RJ Barrett on the team's current morale pic.twitter.com/frGojT6R8f
RJ Barrett only cares about one thing: Winning the game. He doesn’t care if he drops 10 or 25 points, he’s going to find a way to make a difference and positively impact his team. It’s a special quality to have in a young player, especially one who is one of the centerpieces of your roster. Let’s take a look at some of the ways Barrett has influenced the NY Knicks’ success this season.