RJ shows no signs of hitting rookie wall
MILWAUKEE — Durability is not an advanced metric that team executives fawn over. But it probably should be.
If there’s one area in which Knicks rookie RJ Barrett has not been heralded enough in an era of load management, it’s the rookie from Duke’s ability to stay healthy and battle every night. Barrett, the third pick in the draft, has had his ups and downs, but he never stops playing hard.
As the season hit the 41-game midway mark with a lopsided loss to the Bucks at Fiserv Forum on Tuesday night, Barrett had missed just one game, that with an upper respiratory infection.
He played his 40th game Tuesday and has not shown a sign of slowing down. Barrett was key in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s comeback victory against Miami with high-energy, rugged defense and clutch free-throw shooting.
“It went by fast,’’ Barrett said before scoring 22 points in the 128-102 loss. “I’ve always been the kind of a guy that’s played the whole season. I’ve been fortunate to not get hurt, and be there every night. I pride myself on that. I guess my body’s kind of used to going through the season. I feel like I’m mentally prepared for it. I’m good right now.’’
Barrett’s health is even more noteworthy considering fellow Duke rookie Zion Williamson has yet to make his season debut. Last season at Duke, Williamson went down with a knee injury and Barrett carried the load for a spell.
Knicks interim coach Mike Miller said he sees Barrett coming on instead of falling off, getting a second wind. Barrett’s defense has been stellar — his motor on overdrive. He’s shooting just 39 percent but makes up for it with rare intangibles for a 19-year-old.
“I see him growing,’’ Miller said. “Everything he’s doing is trending upward. His energy, defense, everything is trending upward. I don’t see [a rookie wall] at all. He’s very unique with his approach, with his stamina, how he prepares for each game. He’s very mature with his approach.’’
➤ Mitchell Robinson is happy his buddy Kenny Wooten officially signed a two-year, two-way G-League contract Tuesday, but the Knicks center has lost the honor of being the team’s top leaper.
“I’m very excited,’’ said Robinson, who played with Wooten on the Knicks’ summer league team last July. “He put in the work and time. He deserves what he got. I’m very proud of him.
“He jumps higher than me actually,’’ Robinson added. “Yeah, he can jump a little higher than me. We play alike — both athletic, block shots. We do a lot of things the same.’’
➤ PG Frank Ntilikina (groin strain) missed his second straight game. A groin strain cost him much of the second part of last season. Marcus Morris missed his fifth straight game with a neck injury and didn’t travel here.