The New York Knicks and RJ Barrett are finalizing a four-year, $107 million rookie extension that could be worth up to $120 million with incentives, a league source confirmed to The Athletic on Monday. ESPN first reported the news.
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Last season, he averaged 20 points (making him just the 15th player 21 or younger to average 20 in a season over the last decade), 5.8 rebounds and three assists in 70 games. The Knicks selected Barrett with the third pick of the 2019 draft, and he’s been vocal about his allegiance to the team.
“This is where I wanna be. I love playing for the Knicks. I love playing in the Garden,” he said in April. “I love how we got to the playoffs last year and looking to do that again. I love everything about being a Knick. Yeah, (this is) 100 percent the place I wanna be.”
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Barrett struggled as a rookie but has improved his defense and his jump shot over three years in the league. The new contract indicates the Knicks see potential for even greater growth from Barrett and comes after The Athletic reported New York was in talks to trade for Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell.
(Photo: Geoff Burke / USA Today)
