Knicks take RJ Barrett with No. 3 pick in NBA draft

RJ Barrett is trading in his flashy pink draft-night suit for the orange and blue.

Barrett got his wish Thursday and fulfilled his late grandfather Noel’s prediction that one day he would be a Knick. The Knicks, as expected, took the Duke star with the No. 3 pick in the NBA draft at Barclays Center.

It could make the 17-65 tanked season worth it if Barrett turns into the All-Star some expect. But this looks like another rebuilding year, even if the Knicks land their pie-in-the-sky tandem of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Durant will miss next season with an Achilles rupture.

On the eve of the draft, Barrett said, “Big market, what else can you ask for? That’s what you want. As a player you want to be on the big stage.’’

The Canadian lefty comes in with big expectations, and a new nickname — “The Maple Mamba,’’ playing off his heritage. But he’s got a lot of New York in him with his mother, Kesha, a track star from Brooklyn, and his father, Rowan, a former St. John’s player.

Click Here: toulon rugby shop melbourne

His grandfather was a big Knicks fan and his godfather is Steve Nash, who played with Rowan Barrett on the Canadian national team.

On paper, this looks like a terrific pick with Barrett’s Duke pedigree, strong genes and a versatile 6-foot-7 swingman’s game. At Duke, he was overshadowed by the runaway hype for Zion Williamson, who was picked No. 1 by the Pelicans. But Barrett stole The Post’s back page from Zion on Wednesday when he was photographed in his pink attire.

“It’s really important to remember he’s [19],’’ Nash said in the latest issue of Sports Illustrated. “You have to project where he’ll be in a few years. The way he’s trended the past few years has been phenomenal. His shooting is getting better and better. He’s gotten bigger and stronger and more athletic. I think he still has some growing to do. And the most exciting part for me, he’s a talented playmaker.”

There are concerns about Barrett, however, even within the Knicks’ organization, where some had Vanderbilt point guard Darius Garland higher on the board.

The Pelicans, who had the draft’s No.1 pick, eyed moving up to the second pick from No. 4 to steal Barrett and reunite him with Williamson, but Memphis’ asking price was too high and New Orleans traded down with Atlanta instead. A New Orleans-Memphis trade would have seen Murray State point guard Ja Morant fall to the Knicks.

Barrett’s .302 3-point shooting percentage was disappointing and he got most of his points last season driving to the rim, though he isn’t considered to be an elite athlete and doesn’t have a strong right hand. Will he get to the rim in the NBA?

see also

RJ Barrett reveals the personal reason he wants to be a Knick

Duke star RJ Barrett has said for weeks his hope…

“You don’t even know,’’ Barrett said of his improvement since Duke was ousted in the Elite Eight. “I’ve been working so hard every day. I’ve gotten a lot better. And I’m really excited and happy where I am right now.”

Asked where he has made his gains, Barrett quipped, “Come to summer league.’’

Nash was not on hand Thursday night as his wife was giving birth. But this was a proud moment for the former Suns superstar.

“He’s a Hall of Famer and you wouldn’t even know it by talking to him,’’ Barrett said. “He’s the most down to earth person ever. So to listen to him talk and be proud of me and seeing how I’m trying to be better than him and to try to take it further than he did. To know him is amazing.’’

It all sounds so promising, but the Knicks haven’t had much success with their last three lottery picks. Kristaps Porzingis (2015, No. 4) turned into an injury-prone malcontent and forced his way out. Frank Ntilikina (2017, No. 8) could be next after two disappointing seasons.

And Kevin Knox (2018, No. 9), was more down than up during a rollercoaster rookie ride after coach David Fizdale lobbied for his selection in the final days before last year’s draft.

Knicks general manager Scott Perry saw Duke plenty this season, has watched Barrett since early in high school and decided not to trade back despite offers.

Barrett was full of a relaxed bravado when he met the media Wednesday.

Asked to explain his poor shooting percentage from deep, Barrett said, “It’s not stopping me from being a top pick, is it? So I don’t care. Numbers are numbers. When you look at the playoffs, you can’t tell me that everybody shot well. That didn’t mean the Raptors didn’t win.”