From BarrettPhoto: Special to the NY Beacon  

By Samori Benjami 

The Knicks are a week away from tipping off the 2023-2024 campaign.  On October 14^th they hosted Minnesota and fell 121-112.  Minnesota got a game high 22 points form forward Naz Reid and 17 points apiece from their star players Anthony Edwards and Karl Anthony Towns.  The Knicks got a game high 23 points from RJ Barrett, 16 points from guard Miles McBride and 14 points from shooting guard Evan Fournier. 

The Knicks are hoping they get the best year yet from Barrett going into the season.  The #3 overall pick from the 2019 NBA draft is entering his fifth season.  The Knicks highest draft pick since Patrick Ewing in 1985, the Knicks desperately need Barrett to raise his game to a level not yet seen from him in a Knicks uniform.  The Knicks had a good season last year finishing with the fifth best record in the Eastern Conference and winning only the franchise’s second playoff series in the last 23 seasons.  But the Knicks are still a considerable way away from having enough to win the championship. No superstar is going to fall into their lap.  Which is why the Knicks need RJ to become an All-Star.