RJ Barrett, New York Knicks. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
3. RJ Barrett is poised to become the Knicks’ first option
As mentioned earlier, RJ Barrett is now the highest-paid player on the Knicks, meaning there is no incentive to keep Julius Randle as the first option. There was always a feeling that Barrett would take Randle’s spot as the first option, and in the past, Randle has seemed fairly open to it and also aware that Barrett is the face of the team.
Obviously, nobody expected the Julius Randle dream season in 2021-22, and although it was beautiful, Barrett’s presence as the face of the team still felt looming in Randle’s best moments. Randle regressed last season, and now most of the fan base hates him and acts like he isn’t the sole reason why we aren’t on a decade-long streak of missing the playoffs.
Regardless of all of this, the $120 million man now runs the show. The Knicks want to see what Barrett can do as the best player on the team, and that includes letting New York be his team.
This is also the first time that Barrett will play with a good point guard in Jalen Brunson. Before this, Barrett spent two seasons with Elfrid Payton, who is out of the NBA now, and then one season with a mixture of Kemba Walker and Alec Burks. The latter being a career spot-up shooting wing who, for some reason, coach Thibodeau played at point guard over Immanuel Quickley, which I will never get over, as that is a fireable offense if you ask me.
Barrett now has the most tools around him to succeed than he has ever had in his career. He has never had solid court spacing to work with, but this season is as good as it has ever been for him. He will have his best chance at attacking the rim, which is the best part of his scoring game.
Everything is set in place to work well for RJ Barrett as the first option for the Knicks, and now with a huge extension, we can look to see Barrett go out there and live up to his contract.
signed a four-year extension</a> and is now set to be the highest-paid player on the Knicks. After improving steadily over the last three years in the NBA, here’s why RJ Barrett will live up to his contract extension.</p>
<p>Barrett had a <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/20/3-reasons-why-rj-barrett-contract-extension-knicks/2/"https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/rj-barrett-stats-since-january-1st" target="_blank" rel="noopener">monster second half</a> of the 2021-22 NBA season, averaging 23.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists since Jan. 1. It feels like ever since Barrett’s <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/20/3-reasons-why-rj-barrett-contract-extension-knicks/2/"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o27LWbuXEBM%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">amazing game-winner</a> against the Eastern Conference Champion Boston Celtics, he found his footing and didn’t look back.</p>
<p>The Knicks offered Barrett in a trade for Donovan Mitchell and reportedly gave the Jazz a deadline before they would proceed to sign him to an extension. When Utah decided to wait, New York extended RJ Barrett to a deal up to $120 million.</p>
<h2>RJ Barrett will earn every penny of his four-year extension with Knicks</h2>
<p>Many fans outside of the Knicks’ fan base have been screaming that it is an overpay, but that is mainly because Barrett is not a big name. Very few people are aware of how good Barrett was last year.</p>
<p>Barrett <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/20/3-reasons-why-rj-barrett-contract-extension-knicks/2/"https://mobile.twitter.com/KnicksMuse/status/1566480668107980801" target="_blank" rel="noopener">put up better numbers</a> than NBA All-Star STARTER Andrew Wiggins, but nobody talks about that. Yes, I’m well aware there is more there than meets the eye. Wiggins is more efficient and on one of the most positively marketed teams in the NBA in the defending champion Golden State Warriors, but still, this shows how disrespected Barrett is by the casual fan.</p>
<p>This was an extension that had to be made for the good of the team, and there’s a good chance that the fact that New York did not give him a max deal will turn into a steal. Barrett will most likely be the first option for the Knicks this upcoming season, and he has a chance to take an enormous jump to become an All-Star.</p>
<p>Barrett is going to live up to this contract extension and very well could end up exceeding expectations. The 22-year-old has the <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/20/3-reasons-why-rj-barrett-contract-extension-knicks/2/"https://thegameday.com/odds/nba/most-improved/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fourth-best odds</a> to become the NBA’s Most Improved Player, while fellow Knick Jalen Brunson is third.</p>
<p>All signs point to this year being Barrett’s breakout season, and I’m here for it. Here’s why RJ Barrett will live up to the contract extension.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/20/3-reasons-why-rj-barrett-contract-extension-knicks/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> His offensive output should increase </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-133347" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/20/3-reasons-why-rj-barrett-contract-extension-knicks/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F09%2F1239591878.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, RJ Barrett" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/09/1239591878.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/09/1239591878-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">RJ Barrett, New York Knicks. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>3. RJ Barrett is poised to become the Knicks’ first option</h3>
<p>As mentioned earlier, RJ Barrett is now the highest-paid player on the Knicks, meaning there is no incentive to keep Julius Randle as the first option. There was always a feeling that Barrett would take Randle’s spot as the first option, and in the past, Randle has seemed fairly open to it and also aware that Barrett is the face of the team.</p>
<p>Obviously, nobody expected the Julius Randle dream season in 2021-22, and although it was beautiful, Barrett’s presence as the face of the team still felt looming in Randle’s best moments. Randle regressed last season, and now most of the fan base hates him and acts like he isn’t the sole reason why we aren’t on a decade-long streak of missing the playoffs.</p>
<p>Regardless of all of this, the $120 million man now runs the show. The Knicks want to see what Barrett can do as the best player on the team, and that includes letting New York be his team.</p>
<p>This is also the first time that Barrett will play with a good point guard in Jalen Brunson. Before this, Barrett spent two seasons with Elfrid Payton, who is out of the NBA now, and then one season with a mixture of Kemba Walker and Alec Burks. The latter being a career spot-up shooting wing who, for some reason, coach Thibodeau played at point guard over Immanuel Quickley, which I will never get over, as that is a fireable offense if you ask me.</p>
<p>Barrett now has the most tools around him to succeed than he has ever had in his career. He has never had solid court spacing to work with, but this season is as good as it has ever been for him. He will have his best chance at attacking the rim, which is the best part of his scoring game.</p>
<p>Everything is set in place to work well for RJ Barrett as the first option for the Knicks, and now with a huge extension, we can look to see Barrett go out there and live up to his contract.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/20/3-reasons-why-rj-barrett-contract-extension-knicks/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Will he be in SLC during All-Star Weekend? </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-133348" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/20/3-reasons-why-rj-barrett-contract-extension-knicks/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F09%2F1387762318.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, RJ Barrett" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/09/1387762318.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/09/1387762318-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">RJ Barrett, New York Knicks. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>2. Barrett has the potential to be an All-Star as soon as this season</h3>
<p>RJ Barrett has been the Knick with the highest potential since essentially the first second he was drafted. He became New York’s franchise player when the team landed the third pick in the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery, and he has shown perennial All-Star potential.</p>
<p>Jimmy Butler said that nobody should have been surprised when Barrett <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/20/3-reasons-why-rj-barrett-contract-extension-knicks/2/"https://twitter.com/sny_knicks/status/1497434037660573699?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1497434037660573699%7Ctwgr%5Ed17ef6c29d016ffde114d8f74b1edeecdc9e5a28%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Ffannation%2Fnba%2Ffastbreak%2Fnews%2Fjimmy-butler-had-a-bold-take-about-knicks-rj-barrett-the-miami-heat-beat-the-knicks-in-new-york-friday-nba%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">exploded for 46 points</a> in what would have been a near 60-point game performance if Barrett sank more free throws and if Thibodeau would’ve ran plays for him. Butler finished his praise by saying that Barrett is going to be the face of the Knicks.</p>
<p>I would say Butler sees a lot of Barrett in himself. Butler has praised Barrett multiple times, and at one point during a Knicks-Heat game, Butler <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/20/3-reasons-why-rj-barrett-contract-extension-knicks/2/"https://twitter.com/BenRitholtzNBA/status/1372559639322189828" target="_blank" rel="noopener">started coaching RJ</a> on drawing fouls.</p>
<p>Barrett has clear-cut superstar potential. It has been visible since he was quietly putting up one of the better one-and-done seasons in college basketball history, but he has constantly been left in the shadows of others, such as Zion Williamson.</p>
<p>This is the first chance that we will get to see Barrett show off what he’s got in his bag of tricks, while also having to constantly adjust as he will become the focus of opposing team’s game plans.</p>
<p>Thibodeau is not a good offensive coach and he is hesitant to change things up. That clearly hurt Julius Randle as he became the subject of many double teams that Thibs did not help him with. RJ is going to need to show an ability to adjust through this, as that is what the best players in the NBA do.</p>
<p>Barrett has a wide range of talents and has always stepped up in the biggest moments. He seems like the type to take the challenge of being game-planned against and fight through it to find ways to beat the defense. Barrett is no stranger to being heavily scouted, going from being a Duke Blue Devil superstar to the Knicks’ franchise player.</p>
<p>RJ Barrett can handle the moments, and those moments<a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/20/3-reasons-why-rj-barrett-contract-extension-knicks/2/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/04/22/rj-barrett-reveals-personal-goal-knicks-2022-23-season-jj-redick-podcast/"> make All-Stars</a>.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/20/3-reasons-why-rj-barrett-contract-extension-knicks/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> He's steadily improved in his three seasons </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-133350" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/20/3-reasons-why-rj-barrett-contract-extension-knicks/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1110,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F09%2F1369199593.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, RJ Barrett" width="1600" height="1110" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/09/1369199593.jpeg 1600w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/09/1369199593-768x533.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">RJ Barrett, New York Knicks. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>1. RJ Barrett is going to continue to get better</h3>
<p>If you click on my name at the top of this article, you’ll be able to see all my articles, and you’ll understand two things: One is that I’m such a huge RJ Barrett fan it’s kind of strange, considering I idolize a guy who’s 367 days older than me (yeah, I counted), and the second is that I have 100% confidence that the Knicks will be at their best when RJ is given the keys.</p>
<p>It looks as if New York was reluctant <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/20/3-reasons-why-rj-barrett-contract-extension-knicks/2/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/07/knicks-torn-decision-extend-rj-barrett-trade-chaos-backfire/">to give Barrett his money</a>, which is definitely problematic, but he got paid, so however the front office feels is irrelevant. Barrett does not seem offended by this, he has the highest potential on the Knicks, so he is in a position to be the most coveted asset.</p>
<p>The Knicks offered Barrett in trades for Donovan Mitchell, but since the Jazz basically wanted Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin, Quentin Grimes, 700 draft picks, New York Mayor Eric Adams, the Statue of Liberty, the ghost of Carmelo Anthony, Clyde Frazier’s suits, Mike Breen to call their games, and even control over DailyKnicks, it makes sense why the Knicks didn’t make this trade. They would have been mortgaging the future for a team that is, at best, a second-round playoff exit.</p>
<p>RJ Barrett now gets to continue to become the first homegrown Knicks star since Patrick Ewing, who was drafted 15 years before Barrett was born. Barrett is also the highest draft pick the Knicks have had since Ewing, so it makes sense to ride this out and see what Barrett can do.</p>
<p>Barrett’s potential<a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/20/3-reasons-why-rj-barrett-contract-extension-knicks/2/"https://twitter.com/tommybeer/status/1403448064552181765?lang=en%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener"> is incredible</a>, and he has shown this before he could legally drink. At 22 years old and entering his fourth NBA season, he now will have the most opportunities possible due to his new contract and the team’s youth movement. We are about to see the beginning of the RJ Barrett era in full force.</p>
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