RJ Barrett has observed the disrespect. He remembers it. He sees it’s persevering with.
For a participant drafted third total within the NBA’s largest market, Barrett hasn’t fairly achieved the popularity of his friends. And now getting into his fourth season with the Knicks, the 22-year-old has a idea as to why.
“Besides the fans, which we do have a lot of fans, everybody else really doesn’t like us,” Barrett stated. “Everybody else doesn’t like us. I mean, I don’t know. It’s weird. I’ve gotten respect, but at the same time, there’s a lot of disrespect. But that’s fine. All the guys that they want to put in front of me or whatever, I’m in their heads. So it really doesn’t matter.”
Whether a widespread hatred of the Knicks group has contributed to an absence of recognition, Barrett has, looking back, good causes to imagine he was snubbed from the All-Rookie Teams in 2020. It fueled him to an improved second season. As Barrett alluded to Tuesday, most of these All-Rookie honorees have fallen behind Barrett’s NBA trajectory. He didn’t present names however members of the 2020 All-Rookie Teams included Kendrick Nunn, Eric Paschall, Terence Davis and Coby White.
“I wasn’t on the All-Rookie teams but look where I ended up,” Barrett stated. “Where are some of those guys, you know what I mean?”
Even after Barrett’s breakthrough final season to averages of 20 factors and 5.8 rebounds, he acquired zero votes within the annual NBA GM survey launched Tuesday morning. The classes included ‘Most Likely To Have a Breakout Season’ and ‘The Most Versatile Defender.’
“Do they ever (mention me)?” Barrett shrugged.
There’s certainly a disconnect between how Barrett is considered leaguewide and his standing amongst Knick followers who chanted his identify repeatedly at MSG. The naysayers level to Barrett’s inefficient scoring numbers and lack of athleticism. Despite commanding the very best annual common wage in Knicks historical past together with his four-year, $107 million extension (which kicks in subsequent season), Barrett’s contract fell properly in need of the max offers given to fellow draft classmen Zion Williamson, Ja Morant and Darius Garland.
Even Tyler Herro, who was drafted 10 spots beneath Barrett, received a much bigger contract this offseason.
Asked Tuesday if he thought-about forgoing extension talks till changing into a restricted free agent subsequent summer time, Barrett stated that certainty in New York was a precedence.
“My thought was I wanted to get a deal done, because like I’ve always said, I always wanted to be here,” Barrett stated. “So I was trying to lock it in.”
Barrett additionally has a long-term perspective on money-making within the NBA.
“Everybody thinks they’re worth more than they got. That’s probably literally every person. I’m thankful, and I was taught to not watch other people’s pockets,” Barrett stated. “There’s also many ways to get to where you want to go. Different players that have played a lot of years have probably gotten to a certain amount of money that you wouldn’t really think. It doesn’t matter if it comes all at once. If you build it over years, you can get it regardless. You just have to stay consistent. Everybody’s journey is different. So I’m happy with the journey that I’m on and pushing for more.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com