Daily Knicks
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6 Biggest Knicks surprises of 2022-23 regular season

By James Ryder

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 05: Immanuel Quickley #5 of the New York Knicks high-fives Julius Randle #30 during overtime against the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden on March 05, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 05: Immanuel Quickley #5 of the New York Knicks high-fives Julius Randle #30 during overtime against the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden on March 05, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) /
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New York Knicks, RJ Barrett
RJ Barrett, New York Knicks. (Photo by Vincent Carchietta/USA TODAY Sports) /

RJ Barrett’s Regression

I hate to say this but it’s true, RJ Barrett has had a down year. While the concept of Barrett being an inconsistent presence is nothing new, it has still been surprising the extent to which he has struggled for much of this year. He has both disappointed in comparison to what he put together in the final 41 games of last season, and considering the level of which people had hoped he’d leap to before this season began.

Most of his stats aren’t bad on the surface and in fact, are pretty much on par with what has been expected of him while playing with two other ball-dominant players. However, if you’ve watched him this year then you’re well aware of how many nights RJ has floundered on offense.

Barrett is averaging 19.7 PPG, 2.7 APG, and 5.1 RPG. On the bright side, Barrett has shown strong improvement in two important areas; his finishing and his free throw shooting. Overall from the field, Barrett has gone from shooting 40.8% last year to 43.5% this year. He is taking a higher frequency of attempts from within 10 feet of the rim and is shooting 6% more efficiently. At the charity stripe, he is being rewarded 5.3 attempts compared to 5.8 attempts last year, but he is still shooting at a higher clip (74.8% up from 71.4%).

Unfortunately, it is Barrett’s scoring consistency, three-point shooting, and defense that have taken a hit this year. He has 25 games played in which he has failed to shoot 40% or better from the floor. Barrett has shot just 31.8% from beyond the arc compared to 34.2% last year, even shooting worse on catch-and-shoot threes (down to 33.3% from 36.8%). And it has been more than obvious in many games that Barrett has had a lack of quickness, attentiveness, proper decision-making, or a combination of all three such things on the other end of the floor both as an on and off-ball defender.

Thankfully, Barrett has managed to play much better on both ends since the All-Star break similar to how he did so last year, albeit to a less dominant degree. Hopefully, he can keep this up and replicate this level of play down the stretch and in the playoffs.

For Barrett to take the next step as a player he needs to be able to put together longer stretches of competent basketball and way shorter stretches of self-destruction.

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