Struggle to Swish: RJ Barrett Has 'Natural' Goal For New York Knicks

RJ Barrett struggled from the field but showed drastic improvement in another area during the New York Knicks' preseason-opening victory over the Boston Celtics.

It's said that the best things in life are free. RJ Barrett, however, couldn't agree last season.

In his fourth year with the New York Knicks, Barrett shot 74 percent from the foul line. That number seems well enough in theory (mere thousandths away from the best mark of his career) and it's certainly an improvement from his days in Durham, where he shot 66.5 from the line in his lone season as a Duke Blue Devil.

But that tally ranked 11th on the team and ahead of only big men Isaiah Hartenstein and Mitchell Robinson when members of the Knicks' nine-man rotation were accounted for. Things got particularly brutal in the playoffs: during a five-game stretch, another otherwise decent effort (22.2 points, 4.2 rebounds) was marred by a brutal rate of under 66 percent from the charity stripe (10-of-16 over the first three games of the conference semifinal against Miami).

Barrett shot 74 percent from the foul line last season / Wendell Cruz, USA TODAY SPORTS

Barrett was among the starters most preserved as the Knicks opened their preseason slate on Monday, playing just 16 minutes in a 114-107 triumph over the Boston Celtics. The third overall pick of the 2019 draft did, however, make the most of his time: Barrett was a mere 1-of-6 from the field (including 1-of-5 from three) but he was a perfect 9-of-9 from the charity stripe. The Knicks (1-0) were also a plus-17 on the scoreboard when Barrett was on the floor, a team-best in Monday's exhibition victory.

While far from a complete effort, Barrett said that Monday's game tipped off the journey of a personal goal: shoot at least 80 percent from the charity stripe.

“I told you I was going work on it over the summer,” Barrett said of his freebies, per Fred Katz of The Athletic. "I’ve just had this same form for a couple of years now. I’ve just been working on it, so it’s more natural.”

Monday's showing is particularly inspiring after the FIBA World Cup as well. An otherwise standout effort in Team Canada's third-place run was partly marred by a 63 percent output on foul shots. 

Perhaps Barrett's teammates could follow his example: the Knicks certainly had no trouble getting to the foul line last season, ranking third in 25.5 attempts per game (behind only the Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit). Making them, however, was another story, as they ranked 22nd in success rate. Among the returning regulars, only Jalen Brunson and Immanuel Quickley hit at least 80 percent. 

Barrett's perfect night was part of a parade to the free throw line, as the Knicks shot 33 (making 25) next to only 19 for an undermanned Celtics group resting several stars. Fellow starter Julius Randle was also perfect in an abbreviated effort, sinking 4-of-4 in 13 minutes. 

The Knicks will look to get back to the foul line on Saturday night when they play their next preseason tilt against the Minnesota Timberwolves (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG2).