Stat proves former Duke basketball standout RJ Barrett primed to be great
Former Duke basketball standout RJ Barrett appears destined for greatness after a stat puts him with some of the NBA greats.
June 14 marks the 20th birthday of former Duke Blue Devil and current New York Knick RJ Barrett, and although the No. 3 overall pick’s rookie season came to an end prematurely, Barrett still appears to be destined for greatness in the NBA.
In celebrating the Canadian star taking another trip around the sun, NBC Sports’ NBA Analyst Tommy Beer highlighted a stat that puts Barrett among some of the greats who have played in the NBA.
RJ Barrett is just one of seven players in NBA history to record at least 800 points, 250 rebounds, 100 assists, and make 50 3-pointers before his 20th birthday.
The other six players are Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, and Luka Doncic.
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Beer also pointed out that Barrett played the fewest games by far before turning 20 with just 55 contests as Bryant played 150, Anthony 82, Tatum and Durant 80, James 79, and Doncic 72.
Total number of games played before turning 20:
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) June 14, 2020
Kobe Bryant: 150
Carmelo Anthony: 82
Jayson Tatum: 80
Kevin Durant: 80
LeBron James: 79
Luka Doncic: 72
RJ Barrett: 55
Despite the Knicks not qualifying to participate in the NBA’s resumed season, Barrett will finish his rookie campaign averaging 14.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.0 steals per game on 40.2 percent shooting from the field and 32.0 percent from 3-point range.
Barrett is in contention for the Rookie of the Year Award but will most likely finish inside the Top-5 as the race is down to the two heavy favorites, Memphis’ Ja Morant and New Orleans’ Zion Williamson.
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Fans possibly won’t be able to see the former Duke basketball standout until the NBA begins its 2020-21 season, which could come as early as December 1, another setback the league has to deal with because of the coronavirus pandemic.
In a list with Hall of Famer (Kobe Bryant) and surefire future Hall of Famers (LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Kevin Durant), RJ Barrett will look to shorty join the young, elite crop of players that Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum are at the top of.