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23 year old RJ Barrett vs. 23 year old DeMar DeRozan



Not trying to put a narrative out there but this is interesting to see don’t know why people can’t see him as a all star a couple times in his career

by NBAball05

24 Comments

  1. Interesting-Bear4092

    Very different players as far as how they ply their craft. Demar became elite at getting to the hoop and to the line. RJ has the potential to be very good at it too, albeit through power rather than the combination of athleticism and strength that Demar showed. RJ needs to get better at finishing through contact and hopefully he can rediscover his FT shooting.

    My hunch is that he has adjusted the trajectory on his 3 with some success, and it’s impacting his FT’s

  2. Big_Albatross_3050

    I’m still on the train the Demar was a very very good 2nd or 3rd option. If he was on the 2019 team with Kawhi, I’d argue the Raps have an easier time with winning it all.

    I think if he chose a team like the Bucks instead of the Bulls during his FA, he’d have at least a ring or 2 by now as the Robin to Giannis.

    If RJ basically becomes the new age Demar and Scottie keeps with his improvements into superstar status, we might very well win another chip in a few years

  3. Rocketninja16

    I can’t believe he’s 23.

    Feels like he’s got such a vet presence for that age.

  4. bridge_tosomewhere

    Interesting. Definitely see RJ as a better outside shooter and defender, but DeMar became so good in the mid-range and getting to and finishing at the line. Don’t really see RJ mastering that part of the game.

  5. iamjaydubs

    Holy shit he’s only 23?! Covid really fucked my timelines I swore he was 26-27

  6. lemon07r

    Most of the other comments are already on the nail but another thing ppl are missing is how much harder offense was before, changes to the officiating and how the game is played means players are getting a lot more done offensively, and less done defensively. By our teams current stats, we are a a top 2 team offensive in the NBA a decade ago, and even the current top defensive teams would be considered a bottom defensive team back the. Teams aren’t better or worse now, it’s just the way game is being played and officiated is very different. So comparisons like these are very hard, cause it’s very likely the more recent player has stats that are a little inflated, and that the older player is being under represented

  7. jjkiller26

    If RJ can add a midrange pull up he’ll be at the Demar level in most of his time with Toronto. Different methods of scoring but similar production

  8. jeffcrafff

    If he keeps this up, hindsight is going to look very favourably on the return we got for OG.

  9. ItsTheTraveler

    Negative heart rate means incredible endurance

  10. UncleNuks

    I would love to see RJ develop a little bit of the crafty midrange game like Deebo. He’s strong enough to bully his way to the hoop but it’d be amazing if he could polish up the footwork, pump fakes, spins and slick finishes around the rim (or create fouls)

  11. AK-Kaido

    DeMar was one of RJs favorite players growing up and I remember reading somewhere that they workout together once in a while during the offseason.

    Hopefully RJ can learn from DeMar and add some sort of mid game to his arsenal to keep defenders off balance.

  12. Apprehensive_Name533

    RJ has size and Demar is athletic. 2 different players. In the long rilun usually athletic wins out.

  13. shahed2806

    His footwork is looking amazing lately, love seeing him grow. Honestly more than Barnes, he might be reigniting my love for the team just like Demar did with his tweet after Bosh.

  14. > don’t know why people can’t see him as a all star a couple times in his career

    Stats are juiced. You can’t make these simple comparisons when scoring is up like 20-30 points game.

    in 2012 DeRozan was 17th in scoring

    RJ is 47th

  15. The_Mikeskies

    If RJ gets a midrange jumper, the league is in trouble.

  16. Take my upvote. This comparison is a genius find. Kudos!

  17. Brando6677

    How is this a good comparison when RJ has played barely just over half the games DeMar played

    Its not to hate on RJ i am glad he is here and wants to be a rap i love him (pause not like that 😂😂)

  18. rustyshackleford_711

    RJ is going to have the numbers because stats are inflated now but ultimately, I don’t think he is going to have the accolades that Demar has achieved (all nba/all star appearances)

  19. Demar the type of player where contested mid range shots were like layups to him. RJ is more simple and by the book.

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