Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Product Reaching New Heights in Big Apple

Duke basketball's RJ Barrett shows no signs of cooling off with the Knicks.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball guard RJ Barrett (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)
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Only two NBA players are averaging over 22 points per game while shooting better than 45 percent from the field and 3-point line this season. One is Golden State Warriors great Steph Curry. And the other is former Duke basketball star RJ Barrett.

RELATED: List of Every Former Blue Devil Currently in the NBA

On Monday night, Barrett became the youngest New York Knicks talent in history to join the 5,000-point club with his 26-point outing in a home win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Two nights later, the 23-year-old lefty tallied 24 points, two rebounds, six assists, one steal, and zero turnovers across his 32 minutes in a 126-105 home victory over the San Antonio Spurs (3-5).

Against the Spurs, Barrett, who set a Duke basketball freshman record with his 860 points in 2018-19 before getting drafted No. 3 overall to the Knicks, shot 8-for-17 from the field, 5-for-9 beyond the arc, and 3-for-3 at the charity stripe.

Meanwhile, the Spurs' lone Duke basketball talent, now-backup point guard Tre Jones, finished with 12 points, one board, five dimes, one steal, one block, and zero turnovers in 25 minutes off the bench.

But back to Barrett. He's averaging a career-high 22.3 points per game through his six outings for a Knicks squad that sits at 4-4 but 4-2 with its NBA Blue Devil on the floor; he missed two outings last week due to a knee injury.

His shooting percentages also mark impressive career-high levels: 47.4 percent from the field, 47.1 percent from deep, and 86.7 percent at the line.

Barrett and the Knicks have three days off before hosting the Charlotte Hornets (2-5), featuring former Blue Devil center Mark Williams down low, at noon ET Sunday.

Former Duke Big Man Dominates With Career-High Performance

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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