The New York Knicks may have missed out on Zion Williamson, but perhaps that wasn't the worst thing in the world, as they landed RJ Barrett with the third overall pick in the NBA Draft, and the kid has impressed thus far.

Barrett's latest effort came on Friday night, as the rookie finished with 16 points, six steals, three rebounds and three assists in nearly helping lead the Knicks to a comeback win over the Brooklyn Nets (they lost by four).

The maturity that Barrett showed down the stretch was nothing short of incredible for a 19-year-old and bodes very well for the future.

Plus, in New York's season opener against the San Antonio Spurs, Barrett poured in 21 points and five rebounds while going 9-of-13 from the floor in a truly sensational debut.

So, thus far, Barrett has looked pretty darn good.

While he is a wing by nominal position, Barrett has been doing a lot of ball-handling for the Knicks over his first couple of games, which fits right in line with the Scottie Pippen comparisons he heard while at Duke.

Barrett obviously still needs some work in that regard, as he has turned the ball over eight times through two contests, but the poise he conducts himself with while running the show is remarkable for someone his age, as he actually waits for a play to develop before he makes any rash decisions.

Article Continues Below
More New York Knicks News
Charlotte Hornets head coach James Borrego tries to calm down his team from the sideline during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Spectrum Center.
Knicks granted permission to interview ex-Hornets head coachBenedetto Vitale ·
Jamir Watkins Florida State next to New York Knicks logo. Madison Square Garden in the background, blue stripe at the bottom
Sources: Another Knicks 2025 NBA Draft target emergesKris Pursiainen ·
Arkansas Razorbacks Adou Thiero, William Wesley Knicks, Jonathan Pierre Belmont Bruins with Madison Square Garden in the background and a blue stripe underneath
Sources: 2 Knicks draft targets to keep an eye onKris Pursiainen ·
Leon Rose Knicks, Mark Tatum NBA, NBA Draft logo with orange background
Knicks rumors: Insider says he’d ‘bet’ on New York making NBA Draft-night dealKris Pursiainen ·
Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori looks on in the second half against the Dallas Mavericks during game two of the western conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Target Center.
Knicks interview Timberwolves coach, but it’s not Chris FinchRexwell Villas ·
Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) looks on during the time out during the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at Barclays Center.
Former Nets star Kevin Durant responds to Knicks jeer by saying he’s ‘Net for life’Erik Slater ·

And defensively? Barrett is already showing signs of elite potential, as he has logged eight steals over his first couple of outings, utilizing his instincts and his 6-foot-10 wingspan to have a legitimate impact on that end of the floor.

Of course, it's still very early, but the fact that Barrett absolutely appears NBA-ready is a fantastic sign for the Knicks, as some felt that he was actually pretty raw coming out of college.

With Williamson already experiencing concerning knee issues, perhaps the Knicks ended up catching a break by winding up with Barrett rather than Zion.

But that's a story for another day (or another decade from now).

This is just about Barrett, and thus far, he has been spectacular and deserves an A grade for his first two performances.