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Analyzing RJ Barrett’s strengths and weaknesses on offense for Knicks

By Augustus Salt

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - FEBRUARY 07: RJ Barrett #9 of the New York Knicks in action during the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on February 07, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - FEBRUARY 07: RJ Barrett #9 of the New York Knicks in action during the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on February 07, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /
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New York Knicks, RJ Barrett
RJ Barrett, New York Knicks. (Photo by Wendell Cruz/USA TODAY Sports) /

RJ Barrett’s greatest weakness right now is his efficiency

This is all understandably a bit critical of a player going into his fourth season who just averaged 20 points for a disappointing team, but it’s the type of critique that comes along with the star status that Barrett is hopefully destined for.

Barrett’s efficiency numbers are bad.

Again, starting with the surface level, Barrett’s numbers dropped across the board when comparing his third season to his second.

2020-21 numbers

  • Field Goal Percentage: 44.1 percent
  • 3-Point Percentage: 40.1 percent
  • Free Throw Percentage: 74.6 percent
  • Total Shot Attempts Per Game: 14.7

2021-22 Numbers

  • Field Goal Percentage: 40.8 percent
  • 3-Point Percentage: 34.2 percent
  • Free Throw Percentage: 71.4 percent
  • Total Shot Attempts Per Game: 17

Barrett’s field goal and free throw percentage both dropped three percent, and his three-point percentage saw a six percent fall.

While Barrett did take more shots last year, you don’t like to see a player’s percentages decrease on the front side of their career.

As we see above, Barrett is great at getting to the rim and getting fouled, but only shooting 70% from the line is leaving free points on the table. Free throw shooting is the first area where Barrett can improve this year to take better advantage of his player profile.

Secondly, what happened with the three-point shooting?

Barrett went from ranking in the very-respectable 78th percentile in three-point shooting in 2020-21 to the 34th percentile in 2021-22.

Surprisingly, his percentage on non-corner threes was almost identical during the two seasons, but his three-point shooting from the corners fell off a cliff last year.

Barrett lost 13 percentage points from the spot on the court, going from 44% on corner threes in 2020-21 to 31% in 2021-22, according to CleaningTheGlass.

Barrett took more corner threes two years ago compared to last year, making the reasoning for his drop-off difficult to pinpoint.

Again, though, it is Barrett leaving points on the table from a spot on the court considered to be one of the easiest to score from.

Here’s a game near the end of last season that shows almost a perfect Barrett game, as he scored 27 points while doing almost all of his work in the paint while mixing in three corner threes.

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