While the start of the season was indeed rough, the changes have produced results.īarrett is now shooting 39.9% from 3-point range as well as 74.5% from the foul line, up from 61.4% last season. Over the summer, Hanlen and Barrett had identified some changes to his form, and two main goals were set: Improve his percentages from 3-point range and the free throw line. It was good to have an extra chip on my shoulder and just prove myself even more." But it was motivation - motivation for next season. "I really don't understand why I wasn't on it. "It bothered me a lot," Barrett said in December. He finished eighth in Rookie of the Year voting and wasn't selected to either All-Rookie team. "Last year was a frustrating year."Įntering the draft, the concern with Barrett was inconsistency with his jumper, and that proved to be problematic his rookie season: Barrett shot 32% from 3-point range with an effective field goal percentage of 44.5, second-worst among players with at least 30 minutes per game last season. "Then we were never going to talk about them again," Hanlen told ESPN. And as the Knicks have ascended to become this NBA season's biggest surprise, Barrett has grown from perceived rookie bust to significant contributor in their sudden revival.īut coaches, executives and scouts have mixed opinions on what comes next for the 20-year-old guard.ĪFTER LAST SEASON, Barrett sat down with Hanlen and they both agreed to go through film from his first NBA season once - and only once. New York remains firmly in the hunt for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs heading into its Sunday matchup at the LA Clippers (3:30 p.m. "If you can just get the results you want that easily, everybody would be where they want to be." "You just have to keep working," Barrett told ESPN. Then after that, he shot 45.9% from long range, including three games taking 10 or more 3s. Over the next 23 games, Barret shot 44.1% from the field and 33.3% from 3. It began to produce the results he was hoping for when he and Hanlen first diagnosed the problem. The offseason experiment with his shot and its opening night returns suddenly seemed fruitless.īarrett redoubled his efforts, hitting the gym at night after practice for another 400 to 500 3-pointers and 100 free throws each time. Over New York's next four games, he shot 17-for-66 from the field - including 0-for-21 from 3-point range. After shooting just 32% from long range as a rookie, Barrett had seemingly added another tool to his arsenal.īut over the next few games, Barrett started missing. The duo's offseason work was paying off right away. 3 overall in the 2019 NBA draft, had been working to remove a hitch from his jump shot with the help of his trainer, Drew Hanlen. Heading into this season, Barrett, taken No. It was Barrett's third made 3-pointer in as many tries, headlining a final box score that would see him put up a team high 26 points on 11-for-15 shooting, eight rebounds, five assists - and that perfect 3-for-3 mark from deep. Despite Indiana Pacers guard Aaron Holiday closing hard, Barrett rose and fired a high-arching shot that hit all net and gave the Knicks a three-point lead just before halftime. ON OPENING NIGHT in Indianapolis, New York Knicks guard RJ Barrett stood wide open in the left corner before taking a crosscourt pass and gathering for the shot. What scouts, execs and coaches are saying about RJ Barrett's Year 2 leap You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser
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