RJ Barrett Props for Rookie Season: Over/Under PPG Set at 16.5
- The pressure is on third overall pick RJ Barrett to carry the New York Knicks offensively
- The former Duke Blue Devils star averaged 22.6 points per game last season
- New York finished last in the NBA in 2018-19 with a 17-65 record
It didn’t take long for RJ Barrett to get a sense of what it may feel like playing in New York next season.
After being selected third overall in the 2019 NBA Draft last week, Barrett sat down for his first official news conference as a member of the Knicks. The Canadian was asked if he was ready to carry the championship-starved franchise on his shoulders.
“I haven’t even played a game yet, so why are you going to ask me a question like that?” Barrett replied.
Welcome to MSG, @RjBarrett6 ?
(via @nyknicks)pic.twitter.com/RlQDsRulqe
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 23, 2019
Shortly after the Knicks picked Barrett at number three, oddsmakers were quick to release prop bets on the shooting guard/small forward, who will without a doubt be New York’s number one scoring option heading into next season.
RJ Barrett 2019-20 Points Per Game Odds
| How Many Points Will RJ Barrett Average During 2019-20 season? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Over 16.5 | -120 |
| Under 16.5 | -120 |
*Odds taken 06/24/19
The Toronto-born Barrett, who was named to the NCAA’s All-American team as a freshman, led the Duke Blue Devils in scoring last season averaging 22.6 points per game. In fact, Barrett, along with Zion Williamson, became the first teammates in NCAA history to each average 20-plus points in a season.
"You have to be proud, very proud. I'm proud of you, son."
RJ Barrett couldn't hold back tears while his dad, Rowan, spoke with @MariaTaylor. #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/mqPSuhp59F
— ESPN (@espn) June 21, 2019
He’s proven he can put the ball in the hoop and the over will provide more value as Barrett will likely average anywhere between 18-20 points per game in his rookie campaign. Scoring is something the Knicks lacked drastically a year ago, with Tim Hardaway Jr. leading the way at 19.1. There was a significant drop off from there, with Emmanuel Mudiay averaging just over 14.
Barrett will have to improve his long-range game after making 73 of 237 three-point attempts last season with Duke.
Pick: Over 16.5 (-120)
RJ Barrett 2019-20 Rebounds Per Game Odds
| How Many Rebounds Will RJ Barrett Average During 2019-20 season? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Over 6.5 | -120 |
| Under 6.5 | -120 |
There is also has an over/under prop on Barrett’s projected rebounds per game. At six-foot-seven, Barrett is a proven scorer, but he can also pull down the boards.
In his first – and only – season with Duke, he averaged 7.6 rebounds per game — second on the team behind leader Williamson.
Can Barrett average higher than the 6.5 RPG total? The answer is yes.
The Knicks ranked 20th out of 30 teams in the NBA in rebounding last season. The club had a rebounding differential of -2.8 last season and with the addition of Barrett, the Knicks will likely bounce back into the positive category in differential.
Pick: Over 6.5 (-120)
Angelo Montilla is a writer, visual design instructor and graphic designer based on the East Coast. As a journalism graduate, his experience in the media industry spans more than 15 years and includes work with Nation Network, SportsBreak, Featurd, Hockey Writers and the Windsor Star.
