How RJ Barrett ranks against former NBA Top 5 picks

Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports

Compared to other professional sports, the NBA Draft is as top-heavy as it gets. The second round hardly ever produces more than bench players. It can even be hard to find value with later first-round selections. As such, when teams manage to secure a top-5 pick, it’s crucial that they get them right. RJ Barrett may have played a key role in Duke’s success this season, but is he truly the franchise player teams are looking for?

Barrett in 2018

The criticisms: While Barrett may have had a stellar 2018 season, NBA scouts remain critical about select aspects of his game.

The good news for NBA teams evaluating Barrett’s ability is that they have years of players and data to compare him to.

In the past five NBA drafts, 20 college basketball players have been selected in the top five, and comparing them to Barrett shows the true potential of the former Blue Devil.

The numbers don’t lie: Barrett put up better numbers than the average top-5 pick.

The flip side: While Barrett’s totals may be impressive, efficiency statistics paint a different picture.

A fair comparison: Barrett stacks up well against Jayson Tatum’s college days

The verdict: While RJ Barrett is not without weaknesses, nothing about his year at Duke suggests he will be a bust. Placed against previous top-five picks, Barrett holds his own in many ways, and projects to be a great asset to whichever NBA team selects him.

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