New York’s ironman
RJ Barrett credits his mental toughness as he closes in on 100-straight games played for Knicks
MILWAUKEE — It wouldn’t be noteworthy in another era, let alone exceptional.
But in this NBA of rest days and body maintenance, RJ Barrett nearing 100 consecutive appearances is something to celebrate. It’s also a pattern.
Barrett never missed a game in college. He says he never missed a game in high school.
It’s too early to declare Barrett an Ironman but being available every day is a point of pride and pain tolerance. There’s also luck involved, which is why Barrett, when reminded of the streak, briefly walked off the postgame interview Friday to knock on wood.
“I think it’s also just mental toughness being able to play through little things,” he said. “There’s always going to be little things that bother you and just being able to get the treatment and push through it.”
Barrett was one of just NBA 11 players who appeared in every game of last season’s condensed and hectic schedule. He finished second in total minutes behind teammate Julius Randle, and Barrett ranks in the Top 20 this season.
His body and game passes the eye test for durability. Barrett is strong and plays close to the ground, thus less susceptible to acute injuries suffered by those high flyers or physically overmatched.
His lone absences were as a rookie because of a sprained ankle, which was followed by 96 straight games played heading into Sunday against the Cavaliers.
Just as important, Barrett has emerged through this streak as a reliable two-way stud worthy of being drafted third overall two years ago.
His 20-point effort in Friday’s victory over Milwaukee extended another streak — now at five straight games with 20 points or more, a career best.
Always a force in transition, Barrett countered a lack of halfcourt one-on-one explosiveness by developing into a better spot-up shooter. He altered his mechanics by widening his stance and moving his elbow to the left.
“I think that it’s hard to improve, particularly if you’re a young player, without that commitment,” Tom Thibodeau said. “So, I don’t want him to change that. I think that our coaches served him well. I think experience teaches him a lot. Each time you go out there, you’re learning more. But usually, if you start taking shortcuts, it’ll show in your performance. I want him to keep driving forward.”
No G League for you: Thibodeau subscribes to the philosophy that young players are better off with his team than the G League, which is why you won’t see rookies Quentin Grimes or Miles McBride spend extended time with the Westchester Knicks.
“I like them with us,” Thibodeau said. “And we have opportunities to get them playing time we’ll try to take advantage of that. But I also think having substitutes in practice for some of our guys is an important part of pacing our team. So the value has to be what’s best for us.”
Westchester opened its season Friday with a 107-103 loss to the Wizards affiliate, with Brandon Williams (21 points) and MJ Walker (20) leading their scoring. Luka Samanic, who signed a two-way contract with the Knicks, had 17 points in just 18 minutes.
The team is playing home games this season in Bridgeport, Conn., at Webster Bank Arena its previous site — the Westchester County Center — has been transformed into a COVID vaccination facility.