Ranking all 25 Duke basketball players in the NBA this season
By Matt Giles
Scouting Report. R.J. Barrett. player. 27. Pick Analysis. Guard. Rookie. 10
- Games played this season: 45
- Games started this season: 44
- Minutes per game: 30.5
- Points per game: 13.6
- Rebounds per game: 5.1
- Assists per game: 2.4
- Blocks per game: 0.4
- Steals per game: 1.0
- FG percentage: 38.8
- 3-point percentage: 31.8
- FT percentage: 61.1
There is no doubt that former Duke basketball one-and-done R.J. Barrett should be higher on a list such as this next season and beyond. At the moment, though, the 19-year-old Canadian, who went No. 3 overall at last year’s draft, still has plenty of room to grow in terms of shooting.
From his costly missed free throws — apologies for the reminder of how Duke’s 2018-19 season ended — to his putrid percentages from both inside and outside the arc, Barrett is often a brick waiting to happen. His past four outings since returning from a sprained right ankle have included one 5-for-16 bricklaying and a combined 1-for-8 clip from downtown. On the other hand, he’s a versatile playmaker, a tremendous athlete, and certainly the primary supplier of hope for fans of the 17-38 New York Knicks.