NY Knicks: Which 2022 NBA player awards can they win?

NY Knicks picks for All-NBA Defense: Mitchell Robinson and RJ Barrett

In the second slide of this article, I made the case for Mitchell Robinson being in the conversation for the Defensive Player of the Year Award. So, if he can be granted the highest honor in the NBA for defense, then why couldn’t he make an All-NBA Defensive Team?

Obviously, if he were to win the award or be a finalist for it, Robinson would make one of the two teams for the less glamorous side of the basketball. But, even if he isn’t either of those things, he can still find himself among the 6 forwards that are selected each season. The same criteria that would allow for Robinson to be the DPOY could get him on an All-NBA Defensive Team nod.

While Robinson is an easy choice, I think a more interesting more interesting possibility is seeing RJ Barrett make the cut. As briefly mentioned in the MIP slide, Barrett’s defensive potential is fantastic. And that was already true before reports started to indicate that he may have grown during the offseason and is now 6’8.

Barrett will definitely be the player asked to guard the opposing teams best player in most situations. Reggie Bullock usually was given that task, but he is now a member of the Dallas Mavericks. The idea that Barrett can be on an All-NBA Defense level is based in the theory that he makes the leap many assume he will, which would include thriving in the role as the Knicks premier perimeter stopper.

And if you don’t believe Barrett has what it takes, just look at the company he held on defense last season:

I don’t know about you, but I see a couple of familiar faces on the list with the topic in question. Even if Barrett won’t make All-NBA Defense this early in his career, there is evidence to suggest it is one day plausible.