MEMPHIS – After RJ Barrett’s 4 ½-season rollercoaster ended in New York, Carmelo Anthony called the third overall pick a “bland” player and personality who probably wanted to leave because he was the third wheel.
“He’s just a bland player, bro,” Anthony said on his digital series show, “7PM in Brooklyn”, on Thursday. “That’s not a shot. That’s not disrespect. I ask a lot of people who are Knicks fans to see what they say, it’s just like, ‘He’s good, he gets it done sometimes, but he’s not an exciting player.’ You don’t know if he’s going to get 4 (points) or 26.”
When his co-host The Kid Mero brought up Barrett’s personality, Anthony interjected with “bland” before explaining why OG Anunoby is a better fit for the Knicks.
“OG is doing the same thing RJ doing. He just don’t demand it the way RJ demanded to be a part of the offense,” Anthony said. “Like, OG is cool sitting around on the wing and cutting and waiting for somebody to swing it to him and knock down a 3. He still will play defense. No matter what. Whereas RJ, he got to score 20.”
Barrett, the highest Knicks draft pick since Patrick Ewing and the first first-rounder to sign an extension since Charlie Ward, was traded last month with Immanuel Quickley to the Raptors for Anunoby.
He averaged 18.1 points per game in his Knicks career but shot only 42% – including 34% on treys – as the Knicks transitioned most of the offense to Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson.
Anthony, the seventh-leading scorer in Knicks history, speculated that Barrett was frustrated and wanted to leave.
“You’re (scoring) 20, 22, 24, and that’s as the third option on that team. So now you feel like, ‘I’m putting up 24, I’m the third option. I’m not really getting it. ‘Alright man, I got to go,’” Anthony, who has drawn rousing ovations at the Garden whenever he returns, said. “He was probably feeling that. Like, ‘I’m ready to go.’ I’m sure he was questioning it.”
Barrett, drafted third overall by Steve Mills in 2019, thrived since joining his hometown team in Toronto, averaging 21.8 points while shooting 59.3% in his first six games.
The Knicks are 5-1 since the trade, getting increased production from Brunson and Randle while boosted by the defensive presence of Anunoby.
“I helped build something in New York,” Barrett told Andscape recently. “When I came there, we weren’t good. I left it a lot better than when it started. Definitely bittersweet, but I’m happy for those guys over there. They are happy about the trade they made and I wish nothing but the best for them.
“I grew up as a player and a person over there in New York. Those 4½ years, I will never forget.”