Is RJ Barrett going to follow in Julius Randle’s footsteps with Knicks?
After leading the New York Knicks to the playoffs for the first time in almost a decade in 2020-21, Julius Randle has fallen from his pedestal. In his place, RJ Barrett’s been on the rise.
Randle went from one of the most beloved figures in New York to one of the most hated. His four-year, $117 million extension hasn’t kicked in yet, meaning that he should be a lock for the next few seasons. Right?
Wrong. Randle’s said that he wants to remain with the Knicks, but given his performance this past year, fans want to see him traded during the offseason. The 27-year-old still averaged 20.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in 72 games, but statistics don’t always tell the full story.
He played his heart out in his contract year in 2020-21, which is why New York offered him an extension. There’s been talk about Barrett getting a maximum rookie extension, but fans are reluctant to see that happen given how Randle played after signing his.
That’s why Barrett’s been elevated to a new level among the fanbase. The 21-year-old holds a lot of hope for a team that’s yearning to get back to a contender status, but what if he ends up going down a similar path to Randle’s?
Will RJ Barrett be able to maintain his high level of play for the New York Knicks?
This isn’t to say that Randle no longer has value. He could be back with the Knicks next season, or he could be with a team in a smaller market. The latter might suit Randle better, but he isn’t a bust.
It was only a little over a month ago when he scored a career-high 46 points in a 131-115 win over the Kings. A day before that, he had 10 points in a 116-93 win over the Clippers. That’s been the tale of Randle this year.
Meanwhile, Barrett emerged with a new level of force in 2022. Out of his 11 30+ point games this season, nine of them took place after the new year. He reached his goal of averaging 20 points, which was up from his average of 17.6 in 2020-21.
The three-year starter ended an otherwise frustrating year on a high note for New York, but so did Randle last season. However, it feels like Barrett has restored faith back in the Knicks fanbase.
His birthday is nine days before the 2022 NBA Draft, so at the start of next year, he’ll only be 22. The product out of Duke still has his entire career ahead of him, and not to mention, he fits New York’s young mold.
It was just last week when Barrett said that he doesn’t think that there’s pressure that comes along with playing in The Big Apple, but instead he referred to it as ‘fun.’ Things weren’t so fun for Randle in his most recent season, that’s for sure. Between the boos and the thumbs down gesture, there were more downs than ups for him.
Perhaps it’s because Barrett’s play in recent months is still fresh in my mind, but it feels like he’s the player that the Knicks have been searching for. If you think the same, you’re not alone because Jimmy Butler thinks so, too.
Hopefully, if Randle isn’t traded, he’s able to mend his relationship with New York. Regardless of what happens, Barrett needs to remain the first option. The Knicks have a ton of potential moving forward, but they have to figure out a way to successfully tap into it.
