New York Knicks rising star RJ Barrett has become one of the more hotly debated talents in the NBA. Some believe that his two-way skills make him a franchise centerpiece, while others consider the lack of development for a player his age (now in his fourth season) to muddy his stock.
A recent Bleacher Report article ranking the top 100 players for the 2022-2023 NBA season took the Barrett hate a step too far. New York’s biggest star was ranked as the… No. 59 ranked player this season. 59!!
This mark places him behind Desmond Bane. Behind Marcus Smart. Behind Mikal Bridges. And just five spots ahead of.. wait for it… Kristaps Porzingis!
For the sake of context, there are 30 total teams in the NBA. This means that this assessment places Barrett as a fringe No. 2 player. And a borderline No. 3!
The case for a defensive boost
This ranking may be merited if Barrett’s offensive output alone is taken into account. The former Duke superstar has yet to emerge as a top-tier scoring option. His career mark of 17.5 points per game, on 42% shooting and 35% from three, is solid. However, at this point, he should not be relied on as a primary scorer.
Barrett’s budding defensive dominance should catapult him at least a dozen spots. The former No. 3 overall pick has thrived defensively under coach Tom Thibodeau. Not only are his individual metrics strong, but the team is also appreciatively stronger with him on the court.
If we are going to boost players like Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Jaylen Brown, Ben Simmons, and Marcus Smart based on their defensive skills, we should give Barrett the same courtesy.
The case for a development boost
Perhaps this final argument is wishful thinking. But I genuinely believe that we have not seen the best version of RJ Barrett.
The consensus belief around the league is that you know what a player is by their fourth year. By this estimation, Barrett has begun to peak as a player. And this may indeed be the case. However, the combination of Barrett’s sky-high prospect pedigree and his young age (he is still just 22 years old) leaves the door open for a significant leap.
The aforementioned Jimmy Butler turned himself into the centerpiece of a Finals relevant team with a late-career developmental surge. Miami’s Tyler Herro also seems to be taking distinct steps toward stardom later than anticipated. Recent stars like Draymond Green, Kyle Lowry, and Pascal Siakam also experienced this career arc. Perennial MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo also took time to find his path toward dominance.
The fact that key seasons in Barrett’s development were weighed down by the COVID pandemic should also buy him more time to find his stride.
What’s next for Knicks’ RJ Barrett?
Perhaps, Barrett can one day ascend to the heights of a consensus No. 1 option on an NBA team. However, even if he falls short of that goal, his combination of skills, defense, and potential surely deserves better than a ranking among high-end third options.
A legitimate argument can be made that Barrett is a top 45 player, possibly even cracking the top 40. Here’s hoping that he can end any future disrespectful rankings with a stellar season this year.
Latest belief about RJ Barrett’s offensive struggles is absolute nonsense
RJ Barrett has been off to a slow start offensively for the New York Knicks, but it has nothing to do with Jalen Brunson.