RJ Barrett has made abundantly clear where he wants to begin his NBA career. Whether the Duke swingman gets his wish, though, we won't know for certain until Thursday night.

Barrett, a surefire top-five pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, explained on Wednesday why he would be so thrilled to be selected by the New York Knicks.

“It would mean a lot [to play for the Knicks],” he said, per Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun. “My late grandfather, rest in peace, he was the biggest Knicks fan. He’d always tell me I’d play for the Knicks. It would mean a lot to me.”

The Knicks have been Barrett's likeliest destination ever since the draft lottery on May 14. New York ended up with the third pick in the draft, potentially putting them in perfect position to take Barrett after the New Orleans Pelicans select Zion Williamson and Memphis Grizzlies go with Ja Morant. Barrett worked out for the Knicks earlier this month, telling local media afterwards that he hoped to play in Madison Square Garden.

A consensus First Team All-American as a freshman, Barrett averaged 22.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game as a freshman. He has great size for a potential primary ball handler at 6-foot-7, 202 pounds, but has many questions to answer about his jumper – from both beyond the arc and off the dribble – and may not quite have the natural tools to be a team’s full-time playmaker at the next level.

New York isn't the only team interested in RJ Barrett. Reports surfaced earlier this week that the Pelicans, who also possess the No. 4 pick after the Anthony Davis trade, have broached trading back into the top-three to reunite he and Williamson at the next level.