
Getty Image / Jason Miller
When the New York Knicks selected RJ Barrett out of Duke with the 3rd pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, they were hoping they would have the next great Knick coming to New York. Barrett had excelled in his only season at Duke, averaging 22.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists a game as the Blue Devils came up just short of a Final Four.
And, for his first few years as a Knick, RJ Barrett showed signs of potentially becoming a star. his second season saw him averaging 17.6 points a night to go along with 5.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists a game as the Knicks were the fourth seed in the East that year. But, he was terrible in the playoffs that year, as they lost to the Atlanta Hawks in 5.
Still, many expected him to take a step forward, but it hasn’t happened to date for the 23-year-old, and he remains more-or-less the same player he’s ever been. This year, his peripheral stats made him one of the league’s worst players in terms of efficiency. This Twitter thread has all the details.
1/ My final RJ Barrett thread this season:
I’ll cover:
How RJ compares to his fellow Knicks
How RJ compares to the league
How the Knicks played with RJ off the court
How the Knicks played in games RJ missedTLDR: RJ is the only thing holding the Knicks back from 🏆 contention
— NBA Stats (@sports_mediocre) April 9, 2023
His poor play has continued in the playoffs, too. After a putrid 2-12 shooting performance in the Knicks game one win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, Barrett was a horrific 4-13 from the floor as the Knick were blown out, 107-90, in a game that was not as close as the final score.
And, Knicks fans have had enough of RJ Barrett, judging from reactions on Twitter.
The fact that RJ Barrett can’t create his own shot on Garland is a problem.
— KnicksNation (@KnicksNation) April 19, 2023
RJ Barrett next season: 我打篮球,但对国家篮球协会来说还不够好
— Clique Productions (@ImClique_) April 19, 2023
Rj barrett doesn't deserve to play another minute in the playoffs 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡
— mike connolly (@MikeConnolly17) April 19, 2023
RJ BARRETT IS TRASH
— Uncle Elroy (@suciaso) April 19, 2023
RJ Barrett adds nothing to this team. He can't score. He can't rebound. He's not a playmaker. He can't defend. He's just out there getting cardio..
— BoredAvatar (@BoredTweetzz) April 19, 2023
Still, the Knicks got a road split and have home-court advantage heading back to Madison Square Garden for game three on Friday.