New York Knicks: What’s next in RJ Barrett’s development?

Barrett’s shooting coach Drew Hanlen had this to say in an interview with The Ringer’s Kevin O’Conner

"“This summer the big focus is going to be being able to shoot off the bounce front the 3-point line, and then in years to come we’ll work on the side-steps and step backs that you see some of my other guys, y’know, LaVine, and Tatum, and Beal, and those guys do.”"

RJ’s 3-point efficiency has climbed to an elite level, but that is partially due to the relative ease of his 3-point attempts. Barrett is still only really taking open spot up, or lightly contested 3-point jumpers, and while that space helps his fellow Knicks score, it doesn’t do as much for his own development when it comes to creating his own offense.

Right now defenders have to stay honest on Barrett when the ball is out of his hands, but they’re still going under screens and allowing him to be a shooter in on-ball situations. If Barrett can become a threat to step-back or pull-up with the ball in his hands, it forces defenders to guard him more tightly which will unlock his slashing game even more.

If you told me last year that Knicks’ RJ Barrett was going to be working on step-back and pull-up threes come 2022, I probably would have laughed in your face.

For all of Barrett’s skills and natural gifts, it’s his work ethic that has been and will continue to be, his greatest strength as an NBA player. It has to be. It’s what’s taken him from a guy who didn’t make an all-rookie team to someone who’s now closing the gap between himself and the two guys who were drafted ahead of him.

Remember back to draft night in 2019. RJ Barrett’s father Rowan Barrett was asked what he wanted every Knicks fan to know about his son, and with RJ crying on his shoulder, the first words out of Rowan’s mouth were this:

"“My son is going to give everything he has on the court.  He’s a competitor, he plays to win.  All the time.  Every time.  He’s gonna work in the offseason, he’s gonna get bigger, he’s gonna get stronger, he’s gonna get more skilled, and we’re just scratching the surface of who he’s gonna be”"

Amen.