CBS Sports: 2019 NBA Draft: New York Knicks select Duke’s RJ Barrett with No. 3 overall pick

By Kyle Boone

The New York Knicks have selected Duke one-and-done star RJ Barrett with the No. 3 overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft.

As a freshman last season, Barrett led the Blue Devils in scoring and set a new ACC freshman scoring record with 860 total points while averaging 22.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.

Barrett had long been linked to the Knicks when the lottery was sorted out in May, so Barrett falling to No. 3 was not a surprise. Initially, his teammate, Zion Williamson, was considered to be the target for New York going into the lottery, but they wound up at No. 3 despite the best lottery odds and with the other Duke star from last year’s 32-win team as a result.

Don’t let the circumstances fool you, though: he is more than a consolation. Coming out of high school, Barrett was ranked as the No. 1 overall recruit and entered 2018-19 as the preseason favorite to be drafted first overall in 2019. He has a pedigree that includes being a McDonald’s All-American, a consensus First Team All-American, Mr. Basketball USA, the Gatorade National Player of the Year, and a gold medalist at the FIBA U19 World Cup with Canada. The list goes on.

As soon as they got the #3 pick, we all knew it would be Barrett and I’m fine with it. He’s easily one of the most polished rookies they’ve had in years.

He might become a star. That’d be awesome.

Let’s see what other hijinks the Knicks can get up to tonight.

Knicks Morning News (2019.06.20)

  • [NYDN] NBA draft profile: Knicks target Darius Garland of Vanderbilt
    (Wednesday, June 19, 2019 11:57:00 AM)

    With the top two picks in the 2019 NBA draft seemingly set in stone, a dozen or so players are vying to be selected in the remaining eight spots of the top 10.

    Darius Garland, a freshman guard from Vanderbilt, is projected as a lock for that group. Despite only playing in five games during his…

  • [Hoops Rumors] Draft Rumors: Knicks, Barrett, Herro, Porter, More
    (Wednesday, June 19, 2019 5:10:02 PM)

    Although they brought in Vanderbilt point guard Darius Garland for a last-minute workout today, the Knicks remain locked in on selecting Duke forward R.J. Barrett with the No. 3 overall pick, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter). With just over 24 hours to go until the 2019 NBA draft, rumors continue to trickle in about […]

  • [Hoops Rumors] Knicks Rumors: Paul, Davis, Free Agency, Ntilikina
    (Wednesday, June 19, 2019 3:04:22 PM)

    Conflicting reports on the dynamics between Chris Paul and James Harden surfaced on Tuesday, with one report describing their relationship as “unsalvagable,” while GM Daryl Morey declared that everything is fine in Houston. Regardless on exactly where things stand, the Rockets may be stuck with the pairing for the foreseeable future. There’s “not a team […]

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks NBA Draft target RJ Barrett ready for challenge of playing in New York
    (Wednesday, June 19, 2019 5:23:30 PM)

    If the Knicks draft him, RJ Barrett knows he’d be responsible for helping turn around a franchise that has won just one playoff series in the last 19 years. And he’s OK with that.

  • [SNY Knicks] WATCH: Ian Begley breaks down the Knicks’ offseason outlook
    (Wednesday, June 19, 2019 6:30:35 PM)

    The Knicks have the tools to reshape their roster and build a contender.

  • [SNY Knicks] Darius Garland thinks Knicks are serious about considering him at No. 3 in NBA Draft
    (Wednesday, June 19, 2019 3:25:00 PM)

    Vanderbilt’s Darius Garland said his solo workout with the Knicks on Wednesday went well and he got no indication that the club wouldn’t consider taking him with the No. 3 pick.

  • [SNY Knicks] WATCH: The 5 Worst Duke Draft Picks
    (Wednesday, June 19, 2019 6:15:41 PM)

    With the Knicks projected to take Duke’s R.J. Barrett with the third-overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, here’s a look at some of the most notable names to come out of Duke who never panned out in the NBA.

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks reportedly declined Rockets on potential Chris Paul trade
    (Wednesday, June 19, 2019 3:18:54 PM)

    With the rumors swirling around Chris Paul leaving the Rockets, teams that could absorb his contract like the Knicks were immediately brought up.

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks’ NBA Draft Tracker: Ja Morant a lock at No. 2 after Grizzlies trade
    (Wednesday, June 19, 2019 11:57:46 AM)

    NBA Draft season is upon us, and the Knicks were awarded the No. 3 overall pick following the NBA Draft Lottery. As June 20 approaches to them being on the clock, here is the latest about the top prospects in this year’s Draft class as it pertains to the Knicks…

  • [NYTimes] Knicks NBA Draft target RJ Barrett ready for challenge of playing in New York
    (Wednesday, June 19, 2019 5:23:30 PM)

    If the Knicks draft him, RJ Barrett knows he’d be responsible for helping turn around a franchise that has won just one playoff series in the last 19 years. And he’s OK with that.

  • [NYTimes] WATCH: Ian Begley breaks down the Knicks’ offseason outlook
    (Wednesday, June 19, 2019 6:30:35 PM)

    The Knicks have the tools to reshape their roster and build a contender.

  • [NYTimes] Darius Garland thinks Knicks are serious about considering him at No. 3 in NBA Draft
    (Wednesday, June 19, 2019 3:25:00 PM)

    Vanderbilt’s Darius Garland said his solo workout with the Knicks on Wednesday went well and he got no indication that the club wouldn’t consider taking him with the No. 3 pick.

  • [NYTimes] WATCH: The 5 Worst Duke Draft Picks
    (Wednesday, June 19, 2019 6:15:41 PM)

    With the Knicks projected to take Duke’s R.J. Barrett with the third-overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, here’s a look at some of the most notable names to come out of Duke who never panned out in the NBA.

  • [NYTimes] Knicks reportedly declined Rockets on potential Chris Paul trade
    (Wednesday, June 19, 2019 3:18:54 PM)

    With the rumors swirling around Chris Paul leaving the Rockets, teams that could absorb his contract like the Knicks were immediately brought up.

  • [NYTimes] Knicks’ NBA Draft Tracker: Ja Morant a lock at No. 2 after Grizzlies trade
    (Wednesday, June 19, 2019 11:57:46 AM)

    NBA Draft season is upon us, and the Knicks were awarded the No. 3 overall pick following the NBA Draft Lottery. As June 20 approaches to them being on the clock, here is the latest about the top prospects in this year’s Draft class as it pertains to the Knicks…

  • [NYPost] NBA mock draft 3.0: Who will Knicks take? When will intrigue really begin?
    (Thursday, June 20, 2019 2:29:07 AM)

    Zion Williamson is a huge talent, but hardly the only intrigue or storyline in Thursday’s NBA draft at Barclays Center. Will the Knicks hold onto the third pick, and if so, will they take RJ Barrett as expected or Darius Garland? After the Pelicans got the No. 4 pick in the Anthony Davis deal, do…

  • [NYPost] How potential Nets target Tobias Harris is viewing free agency
    (Wednesday, June 19, 2019 11:27:28 PM)

    Tobias Harris turned down an $80 million contract extension last summer to bet on himself. Now, the Long Island native is set to cash in. The question is will it be to come to his hometown Nets, to stay in Philadelphia or to go elsewhere? One way or another, Harris — who was at Steve…

  • [NYPost] Cam Reddish is the forgotten Duke star and that’s fine with him
    (Wednesday, June 19, 2019 9:43:55 PM)

    Across the room, the mob was waiting for Zion Williamson. The expected No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft was due at the Grand Hyatt ballroom any second, but the jockeying for position began long before that. Nearby, a group about the same size waited for RJ Barrett, Williamson’s teammate at Duke and the…

  • [NYPost] How Jarrett Culver’s family gave him an advantage on court
    (Wednesday, June 19, 2019 9:36:03 PM)

    Jarrett Culver is just hours away from completing his journey to the NBA, but his development started with a familial rivalry. Fresh from leading Texas Tech to the national championship game, Culver is one of the best two-way players in the draft, and could be a top-5 pick. The 20-year-old credits much of his success…

  • [NYPost] The only way Knicks can mess up this pick is if they overthink it
    (Wednesday, June 19, 2019 7:01:23 PM)

    There have been few recent nights like the one awaiting the Knicks Thursday night. There have been so few times across the past 20 years when the Knicks have only good things awaiting them on any night of the calendar, June or January or any night in between. Thursday is one of those nights. Thursday,…

  • [NYPost] RJ Barrett reveals the personal reason he wants to be a Knick
    (Wednesday, June 19, 2019 3:03:15 PM)

    Duke star RJ Barrett has said for weeks his hope is to play for the Knicks. On the eve of the NBA draft, he explained one more reason why. “It would mean a lot,’’ Barrett said during Wednesday’s draft press conference. “My late grandfather, rest in peace, he was the biggest Knicks fan. He always…

  • [NYPost] Rockets tried dumping Chris Paul onto Knicks
    (Wednesday, June 19, 2019 1:47:56 PM)

    As the Chris Paul-James Harden feud tears up the Rockets, the Knicks refused an offer from Houston for Chris Paul, per The Ringer. Trading Paul, who is in the second year of a massive four-year $160 million deal, would open up much needed cap space for the Rockets — as well as alleviate the reported…

  • [NYPost] Zion Williamson gives Knicks huge RJ Barrett NBA draft endorsement
    (Wednesday, June 19, 2019 1:20:39 PM)

    Zion Williamson won’t be a Knick barring stunning upheaval at the top of Thursday night’s NBA draft, but the Duke phenom is certain they won’t be disappointed if they select his close friend and one-and-done former college teammate RJ Barrett. “He’s cold-blooded,” the almost-certain No. 1 pick said on Wednesday at the Grand Hyatt in…

  • [NYPost] Darius Garland sneaks into Knicks’ NBA draft conversation after strong workout
    (Wednesday, June 19, 2019 11:33:14 AM)

    Vanderbilt point guard Darius Garland said he believes the Knicks wouldn’t have invited him down Wednesday if they weren’t considering drafting him. “If they called me to work out, I believe so,’’ Garland said in the lobby of the Midtown Grand Hyatt hotel where the draft prospects are staying. Garland, who played five games at…

  • [NYPost] Kevin Durant confidant gives peek into free agency mindset
    (Wednesday, June 19, 2019 7:01:27 AM)

    Kevin Durant’s Achilles injury occurred nine days ago in Toronto. His surgery to repair the rupture occurred one week ago in New York. ESPN’s Jay Williams, a Durant friend and a partner with Durant’s manager Rich Kleiman on “The Boardroom,” told The Post it’s too early for the Warriors superstar to figure out what the…