Not every Kentucky product took off for the Knicks.
While rookie point guard Immanuel Quickley and Julius Randle are flying, Wildcat teammate striker Kevin Knox hit rock bottom on Sunday in the Knicks’ 129-115 loss to the Clippers when he received his first DNP of the season.
The writing was on the wall, as Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau reduced Knox’s role when swingman Alec Burks and rookie striker Obi Toppin returned from long-term injuries. Knox had played just eight minutes in each of the last two games, scoring no goals when trying just one field goal.
His choice in the 2018 lottery had started the season with a bang, showing a 3-point firing range and earning praise from Thibodeau.
“Of course, they are not prioritizing their development – the same as last year,” said an NBA scout.
Less than two weeks ago, Knox led the NBA in the 3-point corner shot percentage, but he stopped shooting. Knox averages just 6.1 points, shooting 39.1 percent – and 39.1 percent in the 3-point range. The effective percentage of Knox’s field goals, which gives extra weight to 3-point marks, is 50.5% – higher than Quickley and RJ Barrett.
However, Thibodeau sees a bigger picture and fell in love with the strength of winger Reggie Bullock and even with the tenacity of Toppin, who is not shooting well (40.8%, 26.1% of 3). When Toppin was out, Knox played many minutes in power forward.
It should be noted that Knicks President Leon Rose is more invested in Toppin than Knox, who was selected ninth overall by Knicks GM Scott Perry and former President Steve Mills.
An individual familiar with the thinking of the coaching staff said that Thibodeau still feels that Bullock, Toppin and Burks provide “more energy” than Knox recently, although there is no data to prove it. One of Knox’s problems from Kentucky was a low engine, but he had competed harder this season.
Thibodeau recently praised Knox’s shot selection – feeling that last season he launched a series of reckless attempts. For his part, Knox said recently that he needed to attack the rim more and not rely on just 3s.
The NBA scout said that the Knicks’ slow pace, which Thibodeau prefers, does not suit Knox as well as a faster attack. In fact, the 6-8 Knox stands out on the floor.
Knox’s shooting fell before Sunday’s DNP. He was only 4 out of 17 in the previous seven games.
On Sunday, Thibodeau was probably concerned about Knox’s struggles against elite Clippers forwards, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, as well as the robust Marcus Morris. However, without Knox, the Knicks lost 129 points, the worst of the season.
Barrett, who the Knicks are trying to make more of a small striker, fought, but did not contain Leonard (28 points).
Knox’s future, at just 21, looks hazy. If the DNPs continue, it would not be a shock if the Knicks sent him to the G League bubble in Orlando for representatives – as they did with Dennis Smith Jr.
Knox still has commercial value, and The Post reported that Oklahoma City became interested in him when the Knicks were looking at a Chris Paul deal.
In Andrew Yang’s podcast last week, NBA draft expert Kevin O’Connor felt that Knox could get along with another team if the Knicks are getting impatient with their slow development.
“(He was) a raw prospect coming out of the draft, it was going to be a project,” said O’Connor. “And he’s still raw. He’s still a guy who doesn’t seem ready to play. Too bad in the third year. See the Knicks attack and how much difference a top scorer would make in this team. Having someone like a Kevin Knox developed would make this team totally different when it comes to projecting them forward. In the end, his shot didn’t work as it should – neither his handling of the ball nor his decision making.
The Knicks exercised the option of Knox in the fourth year, which will pay him $ 5.8 million next season.
“He looks like one of those guys who wouldn’t shock me if he were his second or third team, he would end up becoming a quality NBA player,” said O’Connor, who works for The Ringer. “This is the interesting thing with the Knicks with guys like Knox. They are probably more valuable to the Knicks as players, exchanging for someone who can play immediately and bring something. The people I talk to in the league, he considers someone who can succeed. “
The Knicks officially designated Smith Jr., Ignas Brazdeikis and Jared Harper to the Orlando G League bubble, which starts in mid-February. The season will last for about four weeks.