Why New York Knicks' Tom Thibodeau Loves RJ Barrett

New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau stood up for RJ Barrett as he prepares to embark on an expensive excursion.

RJ Barrett has dealt with his fair share of highs and lows during his first four years with the New York Knicks. 

This year, he hopes to build off a fourth season that saw him average 19.6 points per game on 43.4 percent shooting from the field. While those were minor dips from year three, he rose to the occasion during both the Knicks' 11-game playoff run and Team Canada's recent tour through the FIBA Basketball World Cup. 

However, Barrett receives a lot of criticism as a third overall pick (2019) who has yet to take the leap as the Knicks' potential final piece to the championship puzzle. Some have questioned why the Knicks kept him out of a potential deal for Donovan Mitchell last summer and were left perplexed when he was instead granted a four-year, $120 million extension that kicks in this year.

But there's a reason why the Knicks love Barrett and keep him around despite trade rumors.

The Knicks have kept RJ Barrett's potential upside to themselves as made rumors swirl / Kim Klement, USA TODAY SPORTS

"(He's) steady, that's who he is," head coach Tom Thibodeau said of Barrett, per Steve Popper of Newsday. "The thing I love about RJ, (is that) he never gets too high or too low. He's the same guy every day."

If the Knicks were to make a splashy trade for a player like Karl-Anthony Towns or Joel Embiid, Barrett would likely have to be the centerpiece of the return package. However, it's clear that the Knicks want to keep him around and believe in his ability to continue to develop.

That being said, Barrett is a distant third when it comes to the playmaker hierarchy for the Knicks. Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle will have the ball in their hands before Barrett, which minimizes his overall ceiling. But with chemistry in mind, Barrett may be able to feel more comfortable in his role as year two alongside Brunson takes shape. If Barrett can fill that role, he'll give the Knicks reason to keep him and stave off the trade rumors that will continue to swirl.

Barrett's fifth season in New York tips off on Wednesday night when the Knicks host the Boson Celtics at Madison Square Garden (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).