CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It’s been a season of beckoning promise for RJ Barrett — the only significant thing Knicks fans can cling to amid this season of darkness.
But before it’s considered a fait accompli Barrett has earned a maximum rookie contract extension worth up to $181 million over five years with his dogged, attack-the-rim game, a deeper look at his declining efficiency numbers are in order.
Over the last 12 contests entering Wednesday’s matchup with the Hornets, Barrett, playing the first 82-game season of his career, was shooting just 39 percent overall — 30 percent from 3 despite averaging 24 points.
His shooting percentage had dipped to 41 percent, which ranked 105th in the league for players with the minimum required number of shots. (Julius Randle was 104th — which speaks to why the Knicks were 11 games under .500 entering play, having clinched a losing season.)
RJ Barrett (r.) drives for a layup during the Knicks’ loss…