Knicks rookie RJ Barrett may be the franchise's next cornerstone player.

And ahead of his Summer League debut, he has already impressed some of his teammates, including Mitchell Robinson.

"The kid can play," Robinson said. "He's got heart. He goes at everybody strong. If he's a rookie and he's doing that, I think he'll have a great career ahead of him."

Robinson and Barrett will get their first time playing with each other in game action Friday when the Knicks face Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans.

"I think it's a team, we've got a squad," Barrett said after his first Summer League practice earlier this week. "I'm just a rookie coming in. I'm just trying to learn and do as much as I can to help the team."

Robinson, who was named to the NBA's All-Rookie second team, is hardly the first player to tout Barrett's potential.

Weeks before the draft, Kevin Knox said, "That's my guy -- I played against him a couple of times in high school. ... He's a great player. He can pass well, score the ball well. I think we'd complement each other."

Lance Thomas, who according to SNY's Ian Begley has been talking with the Knicks about a potential reunion, said, "He's a force. He can get to that cup whenever he wants and he finishes above the rim. He finishes with a good floater, strong kid."

Barrett, 19, averaged 22.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists on 45.4 percent shooting from the floor as a freshman at Duke before the Knicks drafted him third overall last month.

Friday night is when he'll make his Knicks debut. Suffice it to say, he and his teammates are already excited about working together.

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