Bleacher Report gives take on RJ Barrett that will upset Knicks fans
During a relatively disappointing season, many have had their share of opinions on former third-overall pick RJ Barrett. However, Bleacher Report recently delivered a take on the 22-year-old that will likely leave some fans upset.
In a recent article titled “Are the New York Knicks Finally Real NBA Title Contenders in 2023?”, writer Mo Dakhil said the following:
"New York shot better during its recent nine-game win streak in large part because Hart shot a blistering 59.1 percent from three. That is not sustainable, but that is not the Knicks’ biggest problem. RJ Barrett is."
Whether or not you agree with this take, there aren’t many doubts that Barrett has underperformed during his fourth season in the league and many fans expected better out of him so far.
Bleacher Report delivers take on RJ Barrett that is bound to make fans upset, but is it correct?
While Barrett isn’t some catastrophic issue the Knicks have had to deal with all season, Dakhil made some pretty good points surrounding why he could possibly be a bigger issue than you’d originally think.
Dakhil came very close to hitting the nail on the head with Barrett’s issues, but he didn’t hit the major point, which is consistency. Dakhil does mention Barrett’s declining efficiency from downtown, however, it’s his overall game that has been incredibly inconsistent throughout his career, and that’s something that must change.
Now, Barrett is just 22 and still has plenty of time to grow as a player in this league. However, the Knicks could potentially be in a more “win now” situation come this offseason than many may think, so the potential of Leon Rose trading Barrett for a more established star isn’t totally farfetched.
Honestly, the biggest problem with Dakhil’s assertion is simply the timing of it. While Barrett has struggled throughout portions of the season, he has looked much improved in recent games despite his 3-point shot not falling at the rate we’d like it to.
Barrett has his problems, but he’s not holding the Knicks back from contention this season. Overall defense, 3-point shooting, and consistency are an issue with the Knicks, but it’s really more of a team-wide issue as opposed to a singular concern with Barrett.
