ESPN disrespects Knicks star RJ Barrett in NBA 25 under 25 rankings
New York Knicks fans, you’re not going to like this. ESPN+ released their most recent NBA 25 under 25 rankings and guess who was left off the list? None other than RJ Barrett.
It’s been two days since New York concluded its 2021-22 season, but it seems as if the team’s already been forgotten. The Knicks finished 37-45, which was good (or bad) enough for an 11th place finish in the East.
New York was hoping to make it to the playoffs for the second year in a row, but those hopes fell short. However, one of the bright spots from an otherwise disappointing season was Barrett.
At the start of the year, all eyes were on former All-Star Julius Randle. He led the Knicks to the postseason months before, but as his inconsistencies wore on, fans started to take note of Barrett’s development.
By now, we’re all aware of the text that Barrett (subscription required) sent his trainer, Drew Hanlen, on Dec. 31, 2021. It read: “It’s time to take over. At the beginning of the season, we made a goal to average 20 (points per game). I’m gonna get there, Brodie.”
And he did get there. We all got to witness Barrett’s dominance over the past few months, but it seems as if somehow ESPN missed out.
Who are the top 25-under-25 players?
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) April 12, 2022
With @kpelton and @Mike_Schmitz https://t.co/HG8y0zCqS5
ESPN leaves New York Knicks’ RJ Barrett off NBA 25 under 25 rankings.
According to ESPN NBA Insiders Bobby Marks, Kevin Pelton, and Mike Schmitz, Barrett didn’t make the cut (subscription required). He’ll turn 22 on June 14, so he’s still eligible to make the list over the next couple of years.
He likely couldn’t care less, though. Barrett’s by far coming off the best year of his three-year career. He wanted to average 20 points per game this season and he finished the year averaging exactly that, along with 5.8 rebounds, and 3 assists in 70 games. He shot 40.8% from the field and 34.2% from the 3-point line.
2022 started a new chapter in Barrett’s story. In the 41 games that he played in since the start of the year, he averaged 23.6 points, 6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists.
New York entered the All-Star break on a dismal 3-13 skid, and after that point, Barrett averaged 24.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 22 games.
He finished the season with 11 30+ point games and nine of those took place in 2022 alone. In case it isn’t clear, Barrett’s game has been elevated to an entirely new level.
With that being said, ESPN’s ranking is compromised of stars (obviously), but who didn’t deserve to be in the 25 under 25 over Barrett?
Well, the most obvious answer to that question is Atlanta’s John Collins, who fell in at No. 23. The power forward averaged 16.2 points and 7.8 rebounds in 54 games. To be fair to Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr., who made the cut at No. 25, it doesn’t make sense how Collins was ranked ahead of him, either.
It’s sort of amusing how New Orleans’ Zion Williamson was ranked No. 7, given that he hasn’t played in a game all year long. It’s been nearly 365 days since he played. This isn’t to say that Williamson shouldn’t be on the list, but he’s still in the top-10, while Barrett went on a tear to end the season and didn’t crack the top-25.
No disrespect to Charlotte’s Miles Bridges, who was ranked No. 16, but in the blurb about him, Marks referenced his play since the All-Star break.
Bridges averaged 21.2 points while shooting 52% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. The shooting percentages are better than Barrett’s by far, but what he did for the Knicks after the break (and since 2022) should’ve also been taken into consideration.
It’ll be nearly six months until Barrett takes the court again. He’ll have an offseason full of work, as there are things that he needs to work to improve, like his efficiency and defense. If he continues to climb the ladder, ESPN won’t have a choice but to pay attention.
The overall No. 3 pick in the 2019 draft is the player that New York’s front office should be building around this summer and in the years to come. You don’t need to look at a list to be able to know that much.
