RADIO
RJ Barrett's 2019-20 Player Outlook
5 years agoThe No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, how RJ Barrett's rookie campaign plays out is a measurement of two wildly different extremes. He dominated during his one season at Duke, posting averages never before seen from a freshman with 22.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. Replicating those numbers will be near impossible at age 19, but Barrett hasn't seemed to fret in his limited taste of NBA action. Across four preseason outings, the Canadian has been aggressively attacking the bucket and active on the boards, posting an encouraging 15.8 points and 6.8 rebounds along with 3.3 assists per game. His 37.4 nightly minutes rank No. 1 in the preseason by a wide margin, but that number isn't likely to remain for several reasons, limiting Barrett's opportunities to fill up the box score. Barrett's hardly ambidextrous and his shot selection will likely drag down an already poor field goal percentage, and his erratic style could result in a hefty amount of turnovers. Ultimately, Barrett will experience many of the traditional ups and downs of an NBA rookie. If he is a target, best to not invest too high of a draft pick into what is sure to be one roller coaster of a rookie campaign.
