Kevin Knox should give every Knicks fan hope for the future
The New York Knicks have had a long, dreadful run of failure as of late. Rookie forward Kevin Knox is here to help change that.
The New York Knicks have been one of the NBA’s most storied franchises for decades. Belonging to the same pantheon of marquee teams that includes the likes of the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, the Knicks are there for a very different reason– one that doesn’t necessarily include success on the court. In fact, they are one of the league’s most famous teams despite not being the beneficiary of much success for several decades running.
This fame comes from how long they have been around in the league, being established in 1946, and of course, the fact that they are based in the country’s largest market.
Los Angeles and Boston have combined for 30 titles. The Knicks, on the other hand, haven’t won an NBA championship since 1973 when Willis Reed led them to a 4-1 series victory over the Lakers. The team has made it as far as the NBA Finals twice since, but the league’s third-most famous franchise has yet to bring a title to the Big Apple since Dave DeBusschere was the team’s second-leading scorer.
However, suddenly, there’s hope. It comes in the form of Kevin Knox. Knox, 18, rolled through the NBA’s Summer League competition over the past few weeks, earning First-Team honors. While it’s merely a roadsign to what New Yorkers hope will become great things, it was an impressive showing for the youngster, mixing pinpoint shooting with phenomenal athleticism.
Perhaps he will not “save” the Knicks, but he provides them with a sense of hope that the franchise desperately needed. Knox’s Knicks tenure began with what is likely a not-so-pleasant memory of being booed on draft night by fans.
Expect a change of heart come the home opener in October. During his time in Las Vegas, Knox averaged 21.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game– as well as registering quite a few highlight dunks.
While Summer League performances should be taken with a mountain of salt, Knox’s performance breeds reason for optimism. Throughout the event, Knox appeared to be a level above his competition. At just 18, he appears to have both a body and skill set that are NBA ready.
His Summer League performance still showed issues to be corrected including a field goal percentage of 35.0. Still, Knox appears to be further along than many now-proven players were at the same point. It would not be surprising if he were to showcase the skills of an ideal wing in the modern NBA before turning old enough to drink a beer.
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Possessing the frame needed to switch onto several positions defensively, the athleticism to be a force in the paint, and adequate shooting ability to space the floor, Knox would fit perfectly into almost any NBA lineup. Luckily for New York, there is only one lineup that will have the opportunity to employ him.
When he returns from injury, Kristaps Porzingis will be the star player that leads the Knicks into the future, but no one player can carry that enormous burden. Fortunately for Porzingis, it appears he will now have a teammate with the pedigree needed to pitch in.