Knicks' RJ Barrett is proving that he's no consolation prize

When the New York Knicks failed to land the number one pick in the 2019 Draft, the groans could be heard emanating from NYC and anywhere else perpetually disappointed fans resided. 

This meant that the team wouldn’t be getting the bulldozer Zion Williamson, who seemed to be a surefire star. Because the Knicks were picking third, this also meant that they wouldn’t be able to get Ja Morant, the electric guard who looked like the second coming of Allen Iverson.

Since the Knicks had the third selection in the draft, they had to “settle” for RJ Barrett, Williamson’s Duke teammate. By the way, here are their stats from their one year in college:

Williamson: 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists

Barrett: 22.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists

Looking at these numbers, it’s hard to believe that Barrett would be seen as a consolation prize, but at the time, many did. Now five years later, he’s proving that maybe he should’ve gone No. 1 all along.

While Williamson is having a solid season, it may only be a matter of time before he gets injured again. He’s been plagued by foot and knee problems throughout his career, and he’s only played in around 40% of eligible games since he entered the league. (It’s also bad when a guy known for being fat himself calls out Williamson for being fat.)

Morant, on the other hand, has yet to even play this season due to his second suspension related to guns. While he will be back on the court soon, there’s no guarantee that he will clean up his act, as many people have said he’s not the nice and humble kid he once was.

Barrett, meanwhile, is quietly having a terrific season. He’s averaging just under 19 points per game, which is a hair below his scoring average last year, but he’s doing this in four fewer minutes a night. 

While his two-point percentage is down, his three-point percentage is way up. He’s shooting over 38% from deep, compared to 31% last season. It’s also clear that he has worked on his free throws, as this has climbed from 74% a year ago to over 85% this season.

Time will tell if Williamson stays healthy and Morant stays clean, but Knicks fans should be thrilled they have Barrett. While he may not be a so-called “star,” there’s something to be said for somebody who shows up every day and puts in the work. 

He’s frequently mentioned in trade talks, which just seems to show that the perpetually mismanaged Knicks don’t seem to realize the good thing they have.