Ball Durham
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New York Knicks land its first superstar of offseason in drafting RJ Barrett

By Kevin Connelly

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: NBA Prospect RJ Barrett looks on before the start of the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: NBA Prospect RJ Barrett looks on before the start of the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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The New York Knicks finally have a superstar on its roster thanks to the selection of the former Duke Basketball star, RJ Barrett, with he No. 3 overall pick.

Cue the Frank Sinatra music and turn on the lights at Madison Square Garden.

RJ Barrett is the newest New York Knicks and will soon be coming to the Mecca as the Orange and Blue drafted the Duke superstar with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

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The consensus All-American was the second Blue Devil selected in the draft as the New Orleans Pelicans took Zion Williamson with the No. 1 overall pick and the Memphis Grizzlies rolled with Ja Morant at No. 2.

While Barrett is the first superstar the Knicks landed this offseason, the team that calls Madison Square Garden its home is looking to lure more big time free agent to once again field a competitive team.

The Knicks missed out on Anthony Davis, but would have had to surrender its No. 3 pick to do so. Despite reports, the team still feels it is very much in the mix to land another former Blue Devil in Kyrie Irving as well as Kevin Durant, despite his achilles injury that will keep him out for the 2019-20 season.

Amazingly, Barrett flew under the radar, to a degree, in his one season at Duke, thanks to the greatness of Zion Williamson.

Had it not been for Williamson, Barrett likely could have won all of the Player of the Year Awards that Zion took home.

In his lone season, Barrett averaged 22.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, in addition to grabbing the first triple double in Duke Basketball history since 2006 and only the fourth in program history.

The Mississauga, Ontario native put up 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in 37 minutes, all while having no turnovers in a win against North Carolina State.

In addition to that feat, Barrett was named to the All-ACC First Team and ACC All-Freshman Team as being the runner up to the ACC Player and Freshman of the Year Awards.

R.J. Barrett wants the bright lights on him and he relishes the chance to be in the spotlight and that’s just what he will get as he will now be the face and the centerpiece of the New York Knicks and its rebuild, something basketball fans know too much about for all the wrong reasons.

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