NEW YORK — Pull up a chair, get cozy. It’s time to have a serious conversation about RJ Barrett.
This is an uncomfortable topic for a number of reasons, namely that $107 million extension that hasn’t even started yet. There’s so much hope attached to Barrett’s future, the full-on hype of representing the franchise’s highest pick since Patrick Ewing and its first draftee to sign a second contract in 23 years.
Only two months ago, Leon Rose, who is batting well below the Mendoza Line with his moves, justified the extension by making comparisons even Garden propagandists should’ve thought audacious.
“His numbers are in the company of elite,” Rose told MSG Network while cobbling together three stat totals by players 22 years old or younger. “His numbers are in the company of Kobe Bryant, Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Kevin Durant.”
Which brings us to the present. And why we’re sitting by the fire for this heart-to-heart.
Barrett, as witnessed through much of his young career, has an issue with efficiency. He misses too much. From too many parts of the court.
There were moments the last two seasons when it appeared Barrett would overcome this deficiency when he converted enough to earn chants at MSG and that big extension. But as Barrett’s role grows in the offense — and as he supplants Julius Randle as the team leader in shot attempts — the problem has only intensified.
In essence, this is a basic math equation. A player shooting 39% overall and 26% from beyond the arc — as Barrett mustered through 19 games — shouldn’t shoot this many times. He owns the team’s worst effective field goal percentage and the team’s most field goal attempts. It’s not a winning formula.
Take away the pandemic season and Barrett is shooting 40.4% for his career, which is about 65 percentage points below the NBA average.
“Get in the gym, put in the extra work,” Tom Thibodeau said. “It’s all you can do.”
As he did last season with Randle’s struggles, Thibodeau dances around the subject. The coach’s reflex answer to questions about slumps is a complete deflection or ‘get in the gym,’ which is fine until it’s not. Meanwhile, Barrett operates with a green light on the court and postgame pshaws.
“Don’t worry about me,” Barrett said. “I’m fine.”
When the struggles reach this level, there are fine lines between confidence, arrogance and delusion. It’s understandable, and perhaps encouraging, that Barrett, a top basketball prospect for much of his life, feels assured and maintains his aggressiveness.
An ego is necessary to reach Barrett’s level.
And yet, there’s a contrast in accountability from Jalen Brunson — who takes responsibility whether or not it’s warranted — to Barrett and Randle — who rarely give introspective responses on their personal struggles.
“I’m cool,” he said after Friday night’s 6-for-22 performance. “I always watch the film to see where I could’ve done a better job. But I’m cool.”
If Barrett looked hard enough at the film, he’d notice some correctable issues. Outside shooting can always improve. His tunnel vision when driving to the hoop can change. His touch in the paint may evolve into something less abrasive. However, the reason for some of Barrett’s issues is difficult to rectify. Perhaps impossible. We warned you this conversation isn’t comfortable.
As understood about Barrett heading into the draft, he’s hardly an elite athlete. The lack of explosion and lateral quickness is manifested in his struggles finishing at the rim and keeping up on defense. Barrett is great with a full head of steam in transition. The momentum benefits his strong build.
The half-court game? Problematic.
“My game is getting to the rim,” Barrett said. “I shoot the open 3 when I got it. I know my game.”
That’s a fine strategy if either of those shots were falling, but the question now, after so many misfires, is whether Barrett’s game should change? Should he lead the team in minutes and shot attempts? Should his offense get scaled back? What’s the cost-benefit analysis of allowing Barrett to shoot his way out of a slump?
On Sunday night, the Knicks face the athletic phenomenon, Ja Morant, the player taken directly ahead of Barrett in the 2019 draft. We’d be having a much different conversation if the draft lottery balls landed differently that night in Chicago.
But that’s part of the uncomfortability surrounding Barrett these days. He’s judged by what he’s not because there’s been so much left for desire.
