RJ is A-OK, according to the Knicks' head coach.
David Fizdale hasn't been shy about playing third overall pick R.J. Barrett early in the season. The 19-year-old is averaging a shade over 37 minutes a game, and at 260 minutes on the season, he leads the entire NBA in time on the floor. (Andre Drummond is second with 250 minutes played, and Marcus Morris and Julius Randle are No. 3 and 6, respectively.)
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Too much for the neophyte (Clyde's word, not mine) 2 guard? Not exactly.
After the Knicks' disastrous home loss to the 1-5 Kings on Sunday night, the second-year Knicks head coach wasted no time putting to bed the suggestion that Barrett might get worn out.
"We gotta get off this load management crap"
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) November 4, 2019
Knicks HC David Fizdale says he's not worried about overusing RJ Barrett pic.twitter.com/wU4RiQWNkg
"He's got the day off tomorrow," Fizdale said after the 113-92 loss. "We gotta get off of this load management crap. Latrell Sprewell averaged 42 minutes for a season. This kid's 19 years old. Like, drop it, already."
Fizdale, clearly displeased with the team's performance, dropped the C-word one more time, calling the game "crap," as the Knicks find themselves at 1-6 despite having a promising, young, revamped roster. Knicks fans in attendance felt the same way about the team's effort, chanting "Fire Fizdale" late in the third quarter when the team was down by almost 30.
But, for now, it doesn't look like Barrett is going to be given a lighter workload as the season moves forward.
Take that, millennials!
