New York Knicks: Three realistic rookie season goals for RJ Barrett

After being selected by the New York Knicks with the 3rd overall pick in this year’s NBA draft, R.J. Barrett has a lot of new fans and critics alike. The rookie is going to receive a lot of attention in his first year in the league, and it’s on him to step up.

RJ Barrett is expected to start for the New York Knicks right away, as most top 3 draft picks do. While it would be nice to see him shoot over 40% from three or become a lockdown defender, these things likely won’t happen in year 1. However, Barrett has a multitude of other skills that should be on display as soon as he steps on the court. Here are three objectives that he should look to accomplish by the end of the 2019-20 season.

Average Over 6 Rebounds Per Game

While this may seem like a tough ask for a shooting guard, Barrett has the talent and size to secure rebounds at a high rate. He averaged 7.6 boards per game in college and grabbed 8.6 rebounds per game in 5 summer league matches. While his numbers will likely decrease in the pros, it would be an encouraging sign to see Barrett’s rebounding totals translate.

This is also important because it benefits his offensive game, too. The former Duke standout often used his 6’7″ 202-pound frame to secure the ball off the glass before pushing it up in transition, which is where his offensive skills would flourish.

Score at Least 16 Points Per Game

R.J. Barrett’s scoring talent is undeniable, putting up 22.6 ppg in his freshman season in college. Even after a slow start in the summer league, the rookie averaged 19.7 ppg over the Knicks’ final three contests. With a smooth mid-range jump shot and an impressive variety of post moves for a guard, Barrett should have a little problem with scoring in the NBA.

However, this is not to say that everything will be perfect for the 19-year old. He may struggle due to some spacing difficulties with probable starting point guard Dennis Smith Jr., but that shouldn’t impact his offensive game to the point where he becomes ineffective. This could also end up being beneficial for Barrett, as he has the chance to play off the ball and improve his shooting and decision-making.

Sixteen points per game may not seem like a lot, but when you factor in his likely ups and downs as a first-year player, it becomes more apparent. This number would have put him as a top-5 scorer in last year’s impressive rookie class, and a top-3 rookie scorer in the 2017-18 class. Considering that Barrett will be sacrificing shots to more-experienced teammates like Julius Randle, Kevin Knox, and the Smith Jr. mentioned above, 16 ppg should be more than satisfactory.

Shoot over 40% From the Field

While scoring is huge for any player in their inaugural season, efficiency is vital. Clearing the 40% threshold is usually a solid mark for a high-scoring rookie. Just looking at the past two years, draftees like Luka Doncic, Donovan Mitchell and Trae Young shot 42.7%, 43.7%, and 41.8% respectively.

R.J. Barrett hit his shots from the floor at a 45.4% clip in college, which is impressive considering he attempted just under 20 shots per game. Similar to his scoring numbers, his shooting also fluctuated during the summer league. He grew much more comfortable as the games went on, shooting 43% in their final three games as opposed to an unsightly 21% in the Knicks’ first two matchups.

Barrett likely won’t be an above-average shooter from downtown out of the gate or lead all rookies in steals, as these skills will need to be improved with time. The Knicks drafted him due to his offensive versatility. If he can justify that during this upcoming season, then his rookie year should be considered a success.