Knicks need to be smart with Kevin Knox’s role this season
It’s not uncommon for the No. 9 pick in the NBA Draft to play right away, but the Knicks should resist this temptation with Kevin Knox.
David Fizdale was hired to usher in a new era of New York Knicks basketball. The selection of Kevin Knox could certainly help him turn the franchise around. However, Fizdale and his staff need to temper their expectations for Knox’s rookie season.
Knox is much more talent than production at this stage of his career. He certainly looks the part of the sort of versatile wing that thrives in today’s NBA but his one season at Kentucky wasn’t all that productive. He averaged a respectable 15.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, but his weak PER of just 17 is really low for a lottery pick. It’s reasonable to assume he’s going to struggle to impact winning as a rookie for the Knicks.
That’s precisely why talk of him starting on the wing for the team next season is so concerning. Knox will enter the season at just 19 years of age. That, combined with his relatively thin frame will make it difficult for him to make an immediate impact in the NBA.
David Fizdale says there is ‘absolutely’ a chance that Kevin Knox can start at small forward as a 19-year-old rookie.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 22, 2018
It’s possible that Fizdale is just pumping up Knox in the press to keep his rookie motivated. Saying he has a chance to become a starter and giving him a spot in the starting five are very different things. Fizdale wouldn’t be the first New York coach to use the media to light a fire under his players.
If we take the works at face value though, it’s a significant concern. Rushing Knox could really damage his confidence before he has the opportunity to get his feet under him as a professional. The Knicks are not in any position to damage future assets for immediate results.
Unless the team elects to make a trade, they have competent starters on the wing already. Neither Tim Hardaway Jr. or Courtney Lee are transcendent stars, but they’re both competent professionals. If the Knicks want to win games next season, they are both superior options to Knox on the wing.
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The right role for Knox would be to get spot minutes off the bench next season. Putting him in the rotation would give him a chance to earn valuable experience without feeling the pressure of being a starter. Knicks fans need to hope Fizdale gets this decision right. The team can’t afford to derail Knox’s career before it has a chance to blossom.