New York Knicks: 2017-18 player grades for Kristaps Porzingis

The New York Knicks were on their way to a special season, but all that was derailed when Kristaps Porzingis went down with a season-ending injury.

New York Knicks big man Kristaps Porzingis had an interesting 2017-18 season. In Year 3, he finished with a career-high 22.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 1.2 assists per game in 48 appearances.

Porzingis nabbed his first All-Star selection on the East this past season while shooting 39.5 percent from behind the arc. His season was cut short when he tore his left ACL against the Milwaukee Bucks on Feb. 6.

The Knicks’ playoff possibilities lost their steam as the team finished with a 6-26 record without Porzingis in the rotation. By season’s end, head coach Jeff Hornacek was removed from his post and replaced with former Memphis Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale.

That’s the good news, now for the bad news. The rumors are swirling that Porzingis’ could miss the entire 2018-19 season. The timetable for Porzingis’ return to the hardwood is anywhere from December to missing the entire season altogether, according to James Dolan. The New York Knicks organization is in an interesting position as it’s in rebuild mode.

Rookie point guard Frank Ntilikina didn’t seem to have much of an impact. He was the eighth overall selection in the 2017 NBA Draft. The Knicks will have a lottery pick at their disposal in the 2018 NBA Draft, so they’ll need to choose wisely.

A season without Kristaps Porzingis is a tough pill to swallow, but it’s something they may have to deal with during the recovery process. The offseason should be a busy one for them, nonetheless. Here’s a look at some player grades for Kristaps Porzingis in 2017-18.