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No other fanbases in professional sports overreact to trivial things and non-stories like NBA fans. There is no subject that hasn’t been speculated on to the point of parody. No free agency rumor that hasn’t been considered. No team jersey that hasn’t been photoshopped on a free agent for social media clout. NBA fans are like insecure, jealous boyfriends speculating on the future relationship over an Instagram like. Which is why it’s the best league in the world.
Today we’re going to completely overanalyze the two underwhelming summer league games of number 3 overall pick R.J. Barrett. I know what you’re thinking: “But it’s only two games and the summer league has virtually zero correlation to future success.” Don’t confuse me with facts, young man!! This is about DRAMA.
Through two games this season, the 19-year-old is 7 for 33 from the field, with 10 turnovers and two assists in two games.
His last game was particularly bad:
31 Minutes
8 Points (3-15, 1-5 from 3 & 1-4 from the line)
10 Reb
1 Assist
4 Fouls
8 TOs
And shit like this:
https://twitter.com/_killakolbe/status/1147338535181201409
Barrett will be fine. And in all likelihood, we’ll be able to look back and laugh about these dismal performances. But why wait until he succeeds to have ourselves a good hearty chuckle?
RJ Barrett the next big thing.
pic.twitter.com/j6D1OnX3K2— Brandon ®️ (@BLCity5) July 4, 2019
RJ Barrett play like a 10th grader who the hood think next up
— getting there (@ijstwnnamkeit) July 8, 2019
Knicks fans tryna convince themselves RJ Barrett is the next big thing after losing out on KD, Kyrie, and Zion https://t.co/GDyW5NNwsQ
— dor.go💤 (@LilHaitiTing) June 30, 2019
Nobody:
RJ Barrett in Summer League: pic.twitter.com/IcBpkJCUbK— Sly Global (@sly_global) July 8, 2019
RJ Barrett is Josh Jackson except he’s a worse shooter and not as athletic
— LEEZUS (@AndrewLeezus) July 8, 2019
https://twitter.com/ChrisLewisTweet/status/1148060754773344256
defenders when RJ Barrett shoots pic.twitter.com/CZbwLDXDh5
— LEEZUS (@AndrewLeezus) July 8, 2019
https://twitter.com/robinlundberg/status/1147341718330720256
Both of these statements are true:
– RJ Barrett has been about as bad as you could be in his first 2 summer league games so far
– RJ Barrett is 19, hasn’t played a game since March and a good amount of rust, growing pains should be expected.
Inhale. Exhale. Repeat.
— Andrew Claudio (@AndrewJClaudio) July 8, 2019
How Knicks fans are looking at RJ Barrett. 😂 #SummerLeague pic.twitter.com/2dVjE0P9FS
— GOWIE (@DaKidGowie) July 6, 2019
Never change, NBA Twitter.
[h/t TPS]