LAS VEGAS — It’s becoming a Knicks’ tradition: Fans boo their team’s pick on draft night, then by the end of Summer League think he’s the franchise savior.
We may not be to the second part of that equation for Kevin Knox, but he turned heads with an impressive and athletic debut at the Las Vegas Summer League, dropping 22 points.
He had seven early points against Atlanta, using his athleticism to get to the rim and throwing down some highlight dunks.
Kevin Knox 😤😤😤 pic.twitter.com/SPg7XGvSyw
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) July 7, 2018
"(The Coaches) wanted me to be able to attack the basket, get to the free-throw line,” Knox said postgame. “That’s kind of what I did. I settled myself in. I got to the free-throw line, hit some shots and next thing I know, I was playing really well. I want to keep staying aggressive, keep getting to the basket.”
Things were not perfect — he was 1-of-6 from three — plus, we need to throw in the caveat this is just Summer League. Don’t read too much into it.
But the athletic Knox showed why he climbed up draft boards during workout process of the draft, getting all the way up to the Knicks at ninth. He’s got a lot of potential, and he’s going to get the chance to show it this season with Kristaps Porzingis out for at least the first half to three quarters of the season (if not more).