NY Knicks: The 4 Best RJ Barrett Games of the Season

3) NY Knicks: RJ Barrett lights up the Hawks | 1/4

• 26 points
• 11 rebounds
• 5 assists
• 2 steals
• 10-19  FG 
• 44 minutes

There was a point in the season where the league leaders in minutes played were Julius Randle and RJ Barrett. While a few games of inconsistent playing time brought Barrett back down to the middle of the pack, his performance in their win against the Hawks shows what a workhorse he’s been for the Knicks this season. Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson were not yet in New York, Nerlens Noel was out with a sprained left ankle, and their bench consisted only of Quickley, Kevin Knox, and the newly departed Austin Rivers (there’s no question to what Austin Rivers’ best game of the season was).

Barrett logged a whopping 44 minutes and didn’t miss a beat, scoring an efficient 26 points while also shooting 5 -7 from the free throw line. His 26 points and 11 rebounds were season highs at the time, as he recored his first double-double of the season.

Barrett and the NY Knicks came from behind in this one, as they trailed by 15 with 4:40 remaining in the 3rd quarter. Barrett hustled throughout the night – sprinting down the court after a Julius Randle steal to finish over Trae Young in the paint. He continued to show off his improved passing abilities, tossing up an alley oop to Mitchell Robinson to put the Knicks ahead 101-99 halfway through the 4th quarter. He also prayed on the Hawks last season, recording 27 points against Atlanta, a career high at the time.