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RJ Barrett Continues To Impress The Knicks

The rookie is becoming a star and a major building block for the future.

By JD King
Charlotte Hornets v New York Knicks
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: (EDITORS NOTE: Image contains profanity.) RJ Barrett #9 of the New York Knicks gestures after hitting a three point basket against the Charlotte Hornets at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2019 in New York City. Charlotte Hornets defeated the Charlotte Hornets 103-102.
Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images

One of the funnier things about the 2019 draft was when New Yorkers were convinced they had been so bad that of course they would win the lottery and get to draft Zion Williamson.

Of course that didn't work out so well.

Williamson went to the New Orleans Pelicans and New York got RJ Barrett with the third pick.

They’re not terribly unhappy about it now.

Barrett is playing well beyond his years and his coach, David Fizdale, has been singing his praises all season. His latest praise:

“What you’re starting to see is a real consistent thing from him. It doesn’t matter if he plays poorly in the first half, whether he’s making his shots or not. That second half, he’s gonna find a way to impact the game. He’s just such a gamer that way and he really stepped up for us in the second half to help us.”

And he’s just getting started.

And think about this: New York’s most exciting athletes this year are both rookies from Duke. Barrett, along with Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, are both the future of their franchises.

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