Basketball fans across the globe (especially Knicks fans) are on the edge of their seats as rumors swirl about the status of the New York Knicks rising star, RJ Barrett. With the playoffs just around the corner, fans are eager to know if the young shooting guard will be available to lead his team to victory. Despite the speculations, the question remains: is RJ Barrett injured? So buckle up, basketball fans, because this is a story you won’t want to miss!
RJ Barrett’s status as the New York Knicks pushes for a successful playoff run. Is he injured?
During the Sunday game against the Washington Wizards, RJ Barrett was ruled out by the New York Knicks due to an “unnamed illness”. According to the team, he will be out day-to-day, which means he could still return to their lineup in their last three games of the 2022-2023 season.
Courtesy of ESPNThe Knicks are currently the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference (46-33) and are locked for the NBA playoffs with just a few days remaining before the tournament kicks off. However, the Knicks superstar, Julius Randle, has been sidelined since March 30 due to a sprained ankle. With Barrett and Randle currently out of rotation, this means that the Knicks are missing two of their best stars. If the playoffs would begin today, they’ll be up against the mighty duo of Joel Embiid and James Harden along with the rest of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Meanwhile, in his last game before being sick, Barrett tallied 14 points and 7 rebounds but only made 6 of his 17 shots.
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RJ Barrett’s effect on the Knicks
The 2019 third-overall pick is currently in his fourth NBA season and has been one of the key pieces for the Knicks franchise. This season, he is averaging good numbers by putting up 19.5 points, 2.7 assists, and 5.3 rebounds.
Also this season, the Knicks are better offensively when the 22-year-old guard is on the court. When RJ Barrett is out, the Knicks’ offensive rating is 117.6. But, if he plays, it rises to 118.8. After four seasons, Barrett has become a great offensive weapon for his team.
However, despite his great output, the rising star has not made any significant improvements. Compared to guys in his draft class like Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, Darius Garland, Tyler Herro, Jordan Poole, and Matis Thybulle, who all broke out in their ways, Barrett has been pretty just the same as when he was drafted. To be fair, Barrett is one of the best scorers in the game, there’s no doubt about that. But, he is an inefficient one-dimensional scorer who heavily relies on his left hand. Sometimes, he also sleeps on defense. Regardless, he is still a great player that needs some improvement. After all, he is still just 22 years old.
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The New York Knicks: Franchise redeemed by RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, and Jalen Brunson
The Knicks turned out to be a good team this season after being the laughingstock of the NBA in the past years. Thanks to their best players Randle, Barrett, Brunson, and others, they have clinched a playoff spot following their win against the Wizards on Sunday.
Also Read: 2023 NBA Regular Season Awards, Top 3 Frontrunners (MVP, DPoY, RoY, MIP, 6MoY, CoY, Scoring Champ)
CLINCHED ✅ pic.twitter.com/SYyk4c9jLP
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) April 3, 2023
Last season, the Knicks failed to secure a spot after falling to the 11th seed. But now, they look like a better team after signing Jalen Brunson. With a list of young guys, this team has a bright future ahead of them and hopefully, the championship returns to the big apple soon.
Can RJ Barrett return to the New York Knicks just in time for the playoffs? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. For more content, stay with us, here at Spiel Times.
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