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3 positive Knicks preseason developments, including RJ Barrett's aggressiveness

david vertsberger
·3 min read

The Knicks wrapped their preseason with a blowout loss to the Washington Wizards Wednesday night, finishing their exhibition slate 1-3 with the regular season beginning in less than a week.

While it’s difficult to glean much from inconsequential games in which we hardly saw what the final product will look like, there are some positive takeaways to keep track of once the real competition starts...

RJ Barrett’s aggressiveness and free-throw shooting

The third overall pick and fifth-year man long awaited to become a star is on a recent tear, between a promising postseason and FIBA World Cup run. It’s not exaggerating to say he alone may determine how high this Knicks team’s ceiling is.

While he didn't shoot from the field particularly well in the preseason, he got to the line a ton, and converted once he was there. In his first two preseason games, Barrett attempted 21 free throws in 40 minutes, converting on 18.

If Barrett can maintain this newfound aggression and whistle-drawing, it would boost his efficiency in a big way and open up more playmaking opportunities for him. Taking his game to the next level will be vital to this Knicks season and those to follow.

Mitchell Robinson’s comfort level

This is the most natural Robinson has looked in his Knicks tenure, as he’s seemed to fully embrace his role and both physically and mentally grown into it beautifully.

An offensive rebound into an easy finish or new possession seems as inevitable as it was during last season's first-round playoff series against the Cavaliers, and his defense looks to be in midseason form.

New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) runs out during introductions before the game against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden
New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) runs out during introductions before the game against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden / Vincent Carchietta - USA TODAY Sports

Robinson converted on 80 percent of his shots from the field over four games, averaging 10.5 points and eight rebounds while playing around 20 minutes per game. He generally looks sturdier and more balanced, and near impossible to score on one-on-one in the post.

There are some drawbacks, namely how he fares against more stretchy bigs and his free-throw shooting, but those have long been documented. If Robinson continues capitalizing on the things he’s elite at, the longest tenured Knick will have a case for some individual defensive awards.

Julius Randle’s efficiency

Coming out of training camp, Randle emphasized efficiency as his biggest focus. It’s been a big part of his development to this point, with the three-point shot propelling him into stardom and his cutting down of long two-point attempts last year shaping his shot diet.

In the preseason, he lived up to his goal. Outside of a rough 2-for-8 shooting game against Minnesota, Randle was 11-for-19 from the field, and including that game shot 7-for-13 from three.

As a whole, he seems to be letting the offense find him rather than the other way around -- a welcome departure from the prodding isolations he’d consistently fall back on. He’s also rebounded extremely well in limited minutes.

As has been the case with Randle, his talent is limitless -- the only thing holding him back being himself. If he’s this locked in to being a better teammate and a freer-flowing offensive cog, there will be little stopping him from earning a third All-NBA Team selection.