NBA Draft 2019: RJ Barrett wants Knicks to pick him at No. 3, won’t work out for any other team

RJ Barrett wants to play in Madison Square Garden.

The former Duke wing is hoping the Knicks will select him with the No. 3 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, he told reporters Monday. Barrett said he’s not planning to meet with any other team after working out with New York.

“It’s this and then the draft,” Barrett said, via SNY. “If that ends up and I’m still there at three, I’d love for them to take me. … This is the place I want to be, so I hope they draft me.”

R.J. Barrett won't be meeting with any other teams, and says that he wants to be a Knick: "This is the place I want to be, I hope they draft me" pic.twitter.com/E1i11C1C17

— SNY (@SNYtv) June 10, 2019

Barrett said he has already started to develop a relationship with Knicks coach David Fizdale.

“We’ve been talking,” Barrett said . “Spoken a couple of times. He was at the workout just now. He’s a great guy. I love him.”

Barrett averaged 22.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 35.3 minutes per game during his lone season at Duke. He shot 45.4% from the field and 30.8% from 3-point range. The Blue Devils finished 2018-19 with a 32-6 record and advanced to the Elite Eight, where they fell to Michigan State.

"New York is my favorite," Barrett told reporters last month. "Every summer I visited. I have family there. That’s where my mom grew up, so I’ve definitely been there a lot."

Barrett, 18, is considered the third best prospect in the 2019 draft class behind Duke teammate Zion Williamson and Murray State point guard Ja Morant.

“We’re excited about where we are,’’ Knicks president Steve Mills said last month, via the New York Post. “We know we’ll get a good player at three. So, it’s something we’re excited about and look forward to.

“We want to build this team the right way. We’ve always said we’re going to continue to work hard during the draft process. We believe we’re a team that can draft well.’’

The Knicks are hoping to have a busy offseason as they’re expected to pursue multiple stars. They’ll reportedly look to sign Kevin Durant and have also been linked to Kyrie Irving and Kawhi Leonard, amongst others.