New York Knicks: 2019 NBA Draft rankings, stats after opening night

2. Zion Williamson, Duke

Position: Forward
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 285 pounds
Opening night: 28 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 11-for-13 shooting

Willamson and Barrett are basically 1A and 1B, so they interchange in the final two spots. For the highlight-reel moments and the uniqueness of his game, let’s start with the former.

For any doubt of Willamson’s ability to play at his height and weight, he put all of that to rest against a deep Kentucky team. With the elite athleticism to make it a non-factor, he exploded off the page as this freakish force for the Blue Devils, racking up 28 points in 23 minutes.

Concerns of an outside shot were wiped away, too, with a made three-pointer. His power and speed to obliterate defenders almost makes his work behind the arc unnecessary or a luxury, if Tuesday’s game was any indication.

Williamson still needs a three-point shot to expand his NBA profile, but he will be the star of college basketball in the meantime without it.

1. RJ Barrett, G/F, Duke

Position: Guard/Forward
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 202 pounds
Opening night: 33 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 13-for-26 shooting

Barrett doesn’t offer the flashiness of Williamson, but his potential as the alpha dog, as the ESPN broadcast noted, was front and center.

The Canadian star hit 50 percent of his shots for 33 points in his official debut. There were hints at these numbers in the preseason, but he lived up to the months of hype with an All-American performance against a not-too-shabby team of Wildcats.

From silky smooth moves to the hoop to the promising jump shot, Barrett played the part of a No. 1 pick. He could improve on outside shooting, but that can happen later as long as he excels in driving to the rim making nonsense of his defenders.

For New York Knicks fans, picture Barrett or Williamson on the team in 2019-20. If they land in the top two of the lottery, one of them may be theirs.