RJ Barrett is the future of the New York Knicks, he was selected 3rd overall in the 2019 NBA Draft. He is expected to be the next franchise cornerstone of the team that failed to reach the playoffs in the last 7 years. The last time the Knicks clinched a playoff berth was in 2013 with Carmelo Anthony. Prior to the suspension of the NBA season, the NYK is on pace to miss the postseason for 8 straight years.

An NBA personnel was comparing Barrett’s career trajectory to what Khris Middleton has now, per Marc Berman of the New York Post. Middleton is an NBA star of this generation but he is yet to reach the superstar level that his teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo currently has.

Here is what the NBA personnel said:

“He’s going to be a good player. Is he going to be an All-Star, Hall-of-Fame type player? Probably not. But the potential is there for a couple of All-Star games, like a Khris Middleton.”

“RJ Barrett is not going to fail,’’ one talent evaluator/former NBA head coach told The Post. “He’s got too much size, too much ability shooting, driving. His perimeter shooting and free-throw shooting — that will get better with time. We all know that. That’s what happens with NBA players.’’

Last season, the Knicks shockingly traded Kristaps Porzingis, along with Tim Hardaway Jr., Trey Burke, and Courtney Lee to Dallas in exchange for Dennis Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews, a 2021 unprotected first-round pick, and a top-ten protected first-round pick in the 2023 draft. They traded “The Unicorn” to make extra space for them to sign a high-caliber free agent but eventually, failed to catch a big fish from the free agency market.

Prior to the NBA hiatus, RJ was averaging 14.3 PTS, 5.0 REB, and 2.6 AST in his rookie year. He relatively failed to be the rookie who’s expected to be a contender for the rookie of the year award. Thus, it’s a possibility for him to not reach the superstar level but it’s too early to predict what kind of future awaits this kid. He already has the talent to be a superstar in the near future, he just needs to refine all of his skills. Only time will tell what kind of player he will be.

Before last June’s draft, Josh Pastner, the Georgia Tech coach, thought Barrett had the tools to be a better pro than Zion Williamson. While that prediction looks off, Pastner said he’s not concerned.

“I think RJ Barrett had a good rookie season to this point,’’ Pastner said. “He will only get better with time. When you have the ability to naturally score as he does, that will only get better. RJ knows how to put the ball in the basket.”

RJ Barrett

Position: SG

Height: 6-foot-7

Contract Status: Finishing first ($7.8 million) year of four-year $35.8 million rookie contract