Why New York Knicks' RJ Barrett Feels More Confident

RJ Barrett's medal-winning run at the FIBA Basketball World Cup has him feeling good about his upcoming season with the New York Knicks.

The New York Knicks signed RJ Barrett to a four-year, $107 million deal last September that kicks into effect this season and Barrett is ready to prove that he is worth that deal.

Barrett, set to enter his fifth Knicks season since arriving as the third pick of the 2019 draft, says that he is more confident heading into this season, which could be one of the primary yields of his experience with Team Canada at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Asia. 

“Having played this summer was big for me,” Barrett said, per Peter Botte of the New York Post. “I’m just in a better rhythm, as well as routine things, also just getting older, learning the league more, learning myself, learning my body. As I’m getting older, I’m figuring things out more and more."

New York Knicks forward RJ Barrett (9) defends Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) / © Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

En route to Canada's program-best third-place finish at the World Cup, Barrett averaged 16.8 points and 5.0 rebounds, capping things off with 23 and seven respectively in the bronze medal game victory over a United States team featuring New York teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. In addition to earning a medal, the Canadians gained entry into the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, reaching the men's competition for the first time since 2000. 

In New York, Barrett is coming off of a pretty solid season scoring the ball, as he averaged 19.6 points per game, though that was a slight dip from the year prior when he became the youngest Knick to average 20 points. Though things ended on a sour note in Miami, Barrett enjoyed a postseason breakout with Julius Randle working off a late ankle injury, notably earning 22 points on over 55 percent shooting over the Knicks' final three victories over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference's opening round. 

The 23-year-old could really take his game to the next level this season if he is able to become more of a leader for the Knicks.

“So I feel great. I’ve felt great, even in the preseason games," he said. "We definitely still got to get back to learning how to play together and stuff. But just conditioning-wise and everything, I feel really good. So I’m excited.”

Barrett and the rest of the Knicks will get their first chance to show their improvement in the regular season when they open their 2023-24 regular season schedule against the Boston Celtics a home (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).