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New York Knicks: 3 biggest disappointments from the 2018-19 season

By Daniel Lubofsky

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 22: Kevin Knox #20 and Lance Thomas #42 lift teammate Frank Ntilikina #11 of the New York Knicks off the ground during the second half of the game against the Denver Nuggets at Madison Square Garden on March 22, 2019 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 22: Kevin Knox #20 and Lance Thomas #42 lift teammate Frank Ntilikina #11 of the New York Knicks off the ground during the second half of the game against the Denver Nuggets at Madison Square Garden on March 22, 2019 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

3. Kevin Knox’s struggles

There was a certain buzz surrounding Kevin Knox heading into what would be his first season in the NBA. The ninth overall pick in the 2018 Draft, he certainly wasn’t as hyped as those taken ahead of him. With Summer League showing of 21.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, fans were curious to see what he could do on a team likely to throw him into the fire.

Counting numbers of 12.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game was a nice starting point for the rookie’s career. He even won Rookie of the Month in December. It was the efficiency with which he produced those numbers that paint a much darker image and tells a bigger story.

Knox shot just 37.0 percent from the field on 12.0 attempts in 28.8 minutes a night. Among rookies with a minimum of 10.0 shots and 25.0 minutes per game, only 16 players have ever shot a worse percentage from the field. The Knicks were content to let their most recent lottery pick play through his mistakes, and it’s clear he has a lot to cover this summer.

The lack of efficiency should say nothing about his future in the league. Three spots ahead of him on that infamous list is Kemba Walker, a high-volume scoring option and three-time All-Star who averaged 25.6 points per game this past season.

Not even 20 years of age, Knicks fans expected growing pains from Knox. But his historical ineptitude was something nobody saw coming, pumping the breaks on a hype train for a player with so much room still to grow.

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