RJ Barrett attended a Puma occasion final week to unveil his first “participant version” shoe. Known as Fusion Nitro RJ, the correct shoe is blue, the left pink.
A Maple Leaf on the tongue stands for Canada. The pink is for his place of origin, too. The blue stands for Duke. A Maple Mamba insignia, additionally on the tongue, represents his highschool nickname — in deference to Kobe Bryant.
Barrett stated he quickly will unveil a Knicks-specific shoe. The Knicks choose he in the future can unveil an All-Star shoe.
“I’m able to get within the dialog, showcase what I can do,” Barrett stated on stage when requested by host Casey Powell of KnicksFanTV about All-Star aspirations. “Yearly I’ve been getting higher. No higher time than now.”
Barrett’s four-year contract extension that begins in 2023-24 can pay him $24 million within the first 12 months. The deal provides as much as a $107 million assure with bonuses starting from $1 million to $1.2 million every for All-Star, All-NBA or All-Protection nods.
If he turns into an All-Star, it’s a very good Knicks deal. If not…
“I can't be shocked if that contract finally ends up wanting as an overpay,” one NBA personnel man stated. “However I don’t blame the Knicks for signing him to an extension. Expectations apart, he’s improved right into a strong starter within the NBA who can present offense. I don’t suppose he’s ok to be a top-three man in your staff. However some views on him are coloured by expectations as a No. 3 choose within the draft.”
Barrett, regardless of averaging 20 factors per recreation, nonetheless has holes in his recreation as evidenced by poor effectivity stats (his 46.6 efficient field-goal share ranks low).
He’s a profession 69.7 % free-throw shooter — a modest quantity that has involved Knicks brass due to how usually he will get to the road.
Working this offseason in Los Angeles with coach Drew Hanlen, Barrett has been heavy with fundamentals in creating extra of a pull-up midrange recreation off the dribble. He additionally has labored on ending extra effectively on the rim.
“I’m making free throws this 12 months,” stated Barrett, who stated staff government Allan Houston has been his chief mentor. “I am going to the basket a lot, I’m sure to get fouled.”
One other scout stated the Barrett’s finest attribute is his confidence, that he can have a dreadful recreation or dreadful half and are available proper again and by no means lose an oz of bravado. Moreover, the New York stage doesn’t scare the Canadian, whose mom is from Brooklyn.
However there’s a cause Barrett was dangled prominently in Donovan Mitchell commerce talks. Popping out of the draft, the priority was the left-hander went solely to at least one aspect and that his 3-point shot would by no means be near All-Star high quality for a wing.
“He’s left-handed dominant and he must perform a little extra — make a defensive play and never simply look ahead to a possibility to get the ball,” the personnel man stated. “He was by no means a man I used to be anxious about. When Barrett bought the ball within the nook for a 3, I wasn’t on pins and needles. Or perhaps a set play and isolation. We're snug we will guard him.”
His sturdiness is one other asset usually neglected in budding prospects. Barrett has missed simply 21 video games in three seasons, having performed 71 of 72 through the Knicks’ 41-31 season in 2020-21.
“He’s a 22-year-old man, however I don’t know if he’s nice at something,” the personnel man stated. “I don’t know if there’s something he’s elite in. However he’s a man who exhibits as much as play, doesn’t miss video games, and is reliable.”
“In making an attempt to find out the worth and value, it should come right down to if he can he enhance to a degree — his 3-point shot, defensively, making performs for teammates — that he’s ok to be your third-best man [on a top playoff team]. Then will probably be all price it and justify his draft place and compensation. However he’ll by no means be a 1 or 2.”
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