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[NBACentral] “I helped build something in New York. When I came there we weren’t good. I left it a lot better than when it started.” – RJ Barrett



[NBACentral] “I helped build something in New York. When I came there we weren’t good. I left it a lot better than when it started.” – RJ Barrett

by asapfetty

38 Comments

  1. asapfetty

    People will hate on this quote but he’s 100% right

  2. Yankeeknickfan

    He did by shooting 40% when there were no fans in the stands

    Huge reason why that team succeeded, and it was our first good team in 8 years, so he’s right in a way

    I would say he was an active detriment to winning in every other year though

  3. ReturnOfAKidNamedTae

    I would hope he improved a 17-65 roster

  4. categoryThreesome

    He’s 100% right.

    RJ barrett helped usher in a new era of knicks basketball.

    We thank him for what he accomplished, but he’s no longer here and the trade that he was involved in made us a much better team.

    Think mark jackson and david lee in golden state. Same line of thinking.

    Good luck RJ, but lets go knicks!

  5. Lovejones722

    Ehhh…..lol. I’m not a fan of this comment at all. Definitely could have worded it better. Yea, he was a high draft pick so he provided “hope”. But the product never matched the hype. We made the playoffs in 2021 because Julius when nuclear that season. Last year we made it to the playoffs because both Jalen and Julius went nuclear. RJ was a role player at best miscasted as a #3 scoring option. The team got better because the front office knows what they’re doing.

  6. Dependent_Store952

    Truth. RJ helped build a better culture over here and was a true professional the entire time.

  7. GlassJoseph

    Thank you RJ. Classy man. It’s appropriate that his trade wound up making both teams better.

  8. confuddly

    he gave us hope, our first top 3 draft pick in a while. RJ+IQ+Obi were a fun exciting young core, I’ll miss them. But ultimately the chance of going deeper into the playoffs is more important than watching young kids develop

  9. WintertimeFriends

    lol, ok.

    4-15 every night was some real quality stuff man.

  10. Thank you RJ for getting traded thank you so much we are much better team now

  11. wtscenario

    Love it. When he on the team, he stinks. When he leaves, he was great.

  12. Fishmike52

    Good guy. Hard worker. It was time for the Knicks to move on

  13. nightwing612

    Love the quote.

    He is right. We have a good respectable winning culture now.

  14. RJ came, he did his thing and was his time to move on. Much respect to RJ for working as hard as he did and helped us in a big way during the playoffs last season.

  15. RiggityRyGuy

    He’s right, but they hit a wall with him and his development definitely hit a wall with them in his 2nd season and I don’t think it could ever have been climbed over with each other.

  16. NewSlang212

    Truth. RJ played a big role in transitioning the Knicks from being the laughingstock of the league to where they are now. I’ll root for him wherever he goes.

  17. When the Knicks drafted RJ they were the worst in franchise history. They were below rock bottom. And for many young guys in that situation with the pressure, it could have gone sideways. Credit to this young man for being the consummate professional and helping turn the culture around and the franchise around. He did leave this franchise in a better place compared to when he was drafted. Unfortunately it didn’t work out. Randle became all nba and he and Barret couldn’t mesh. I wish him and IQ all the best.

    One a Knick always a knick

  18. hecticbellerin

    Ugh, I miss him. Will always love RJ. He’s 100% right.

  19. Odysseus_Lannister

    100% right. Maybe he wasn’t the answer long term for us, but we’re no longer living in the dark ages thanks to him, IQ, Julius, and Thibs. Having a young and exciting team led us to build a strong base and transition to the future after 20+ years of mediocrity/terribleness

  20. Life_of_Gary

    He was drafted the same year the Knicks picked up Randle, a player who has consistently had more value and contribution to getting the team wins. I get what RJ means here, and there is no doubt he *contributed* when he was with the Knicks, but he is overstating his contribution and we will without a doubt be better without him.

    I always rooted for RJ, I even bought his rookie cards, autographs, and jersey, but as a basketball fan, his Knicks stint will be remembered for getting us OG and nothing more. Id even argue that the RJ Barrett trade will end up being the Quickley OG trade when its all said and done.

  21. cricket9818

    I love RJ the man. I think he has good skills and I hope one day he can truly acquire the consistency needed to be great, because I think he can be

    I wish it could’ve been here, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out that way

  22. ChiefHunter1

    He’s not wrong. He was a part of a shift in culture

  23. He’s right

    Rj and Quick better ball out for 78 games a year

  24. Possible-Reality4100

    Cheers to RJ. Good man and hope things work out well for him in Toronto.

  25. I remember a game last week when Clyde just came bacl and talked about the trade. Said something about the reactions of fans and how people lament IQ’s departure, while RJ got a much more mixed response. Clyde sounded really sentimental when he mentioned that and said that he liked RJ. My man Clyde got me teary eyed a bit there too.

    I really hoped that this was the season that RJ really broke out but it wasn’t meant to be.

  26. bailaoban

    I like RJ but to be fair, someone like Nerlens Noel could also say the same thing.

  27. Hot-Turnover4883

    Thanks RJ I just wish you didn’t stop working hard on your 3 ball.

  28. cesarjulius

    he is one of the better players in his draft class, character-wise. performance was flawed at times, but attitude and effort were never lacking.

  29. firstbreathOOC

    Yeah, he’s right. No problem with this statement. Wish him the best on the raps. Nothing but a professional in his time here.

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