People were asking whether KPJ or Barrett was the better player and who would have the better career. I lloked ta their numbers and wrote this.
I am a little surprised by everyone in this thread. It's ok to like Barrett, but the numbers are just not on his side. If you look at advanced or even just per36 numbers, KPJ is clearly better, and seems to have fewer holes in his game overall. Rj Barrett does have an edge on him in rebounds to the tune of .9 more rebounds per game. Some totals are slightly better, but none hold up on a per minute basis.
The thing that he is supposed to be good at, passing, he doesn't even average more assists per minute. I would even venture that if you saw KPJ's playmaking this season, you wouldn't be very confident that Barrett can make passes with the touch that KPJ can, because he can't.
So, he is a worse shooter by far, not by a little. His 2pt% is 43% to KPJ's 50%. That isn't a small difference. His 3pt shot is 32% which is ok for a center, but not a wing or guard. Kpj's is very close, but he got better as the year went on and was pulling from deep late in the season, when he was very reluctant in oct. FT% is not in Barret's favor and I don't think he becomes much better of a shooter as time goes by. KPJ showed his Barrett like FT% in college was the fluke and not the 3pt%. KPJ shot over 40 from the corners and his 3pt % got better every month. Shot under 20% from 3 his first month and after Christmas never shot under 40% for from 3.
https://usatrookiewire.files.wordpr...hot-2020-02-21-at-4.04.15-pm.png?w=1000&h=145
Overall, I would say Barrett's numbers are very troubling. He is closer to being a bust than an allstar right now. KPJ instead of a trouble maker being out of the league, has solidified himself as a bonafide guy with potential who is an NBA player. Right now Barrett is fighting to live up to expectations and failing, and Porter has silenced the haters.
Also, anybody who thinks Porter is just coasting on coming off the bench, he played better the more minutes he was given and when garland went down at the end of the year, he played great as a starter and showed chemistry with Sexton.
I agree that Barrett was not put in the best postion, but KPJ was on a team with a worse record and was not allowed to have the ball in his hands as much and he put together a very promising rookie season, better than Darius Garland and Barrett both.
Porter Jr is better now, has better tools, is a better ballhandler, is a better passer, is a better shooter, has better footwork, finishes around the rim better(supposed to be Barretts strength but he shoots 56% while Porter shoots 71% and is elite there), is a better athlete, and has pretty much better all around stats. Defense seems to be really similar between the 2, but Porter has the better net rating due to better offense.
I think the OP has asked the right question because Barrett was scrutinized while Porter Jr's season flew under the radar just pleasantly surprising most people who cared to check. I just think it is obvious who is the better prospect right now, and I don't see any indicators that that will change anytime soon as Porter proved a lot this year, and Barrett has the same question marks he did coming in answering nothing.
The worst for me is Barrett's passing though. Point Forward was his thing and he averaged fewer assists than Collin Sexton in his rookie year. He isn't a point forward and his tunnel vision is bad. He cannot be such a bad shooter and a bad passer. Being a playmaking maestro is the only thing that can save him if his shooting is this poor going forward. he's at best a secondary playmaker I think.
This was the article I got KPJ's month by month 3pt% on. Good analysis.
On a team with two recent top 10 picks, a man picked at the end of the first round has emerged as a potential star.
therookiewire.usatoday.com
KPJ has a long way to go, but what we have seen is promising. My biggest question about him is his durability as he has already had some troubling issues.
One thing I was shocked at when I saw. He is finishing at the basket at 71%. I think the way he draws fouls there is really amazing and his strength to finish and balance/body control are elite. That's a Lebron fg% at the basket. better than Lebron's rookie year.