New York Knicks: Kevin Knox looked impressive during Summer League

After a decent rookie season with the New York Knicks, Kevin Knox appears to have improved upon his game considering he performed exceptionally in Summer League.

Kevin Knox has the talent and frame needed to develop into an excellent offensive player for the New York Knicks.

Though as a 19-year-old rookie this past season he was consistently inconsistent, looking like a future NBA star some nights and an inefficient shot-chucker at other times.

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Despite all of the ups and downs, Knox had a solid rookie campaign and he displayed during Summer League that he has improved in quite a few areas of his game since 2018-19.

As a rookie, he flashed potential as a player who could develop into an effective finisher at the rim driving to the basket. That being said, Knox struggled to stay under control when taking defenders to the rim and he would often have trouble using his strength in order to finish through contact.

However in Las Vegas this summer, the Kentucky product exhibited tremendous growth in this vitally important skill.

Knox appeared significantly more composed when heading to the basket. He was not reckless and unlike during his rookie season, he did not try to force himself to the rim if there was not a driving angle.

Also, Knox has clearly gained some much-needed muscle this summer. Throughout Summer League he finished over and through defenders, leading to an impressive amount of and-one opportunities.

Along with becoming stronger, Knox is an improved finisher against contact because his body control has improved greatly. He now has a better understanding of when and how he needs to contort his body in order to keep the defense from contesting his shots at the cup.

Knox’s ability to score close to the basket will be a key factor in whether he can improve upon his horrid scoring efficiency as a rookie.

His efficiency is arguably his biggest red flag so far as a pro, and it is seemingly holding him back from being widely considered as a future star. Knox shot just 37 percent from the field as a rookie, a startlingly low percentage even for a teenager.

If he can begin to attack the basket next season as he had in Summer League, his efficiency has the potential to rise dramatically.

As a playmaker, Knox was solid during his time in Las Vegas. He did a great job of being aware of where his teammates were on the floor, and off the dribble, he was able to find them for easy buckets on occasion.

As a rookie, Knox did not possess the skill of reading the defense and making plays for others while attacking the basket however in Vegas his vision looked much improved.

Considering he averaged more turnovers per game than assists last season, fans should be excited that he has improved in one of the biggest holes in his game.

Knox finished Summer League with a stat line of 16.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2 assists in 29.6 minutes per game. He actually finished last year’s Summer League with superior numbers, as in 2018 he averaged 21.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

However, when diving deeper it becomes clear that Knox’s 2019 performance was more impressive because of the drastic improvement in his all-around game. Also, he had to defer at times to Knicks top draft pick RJ Barrett this summer which limited his touches and shot attempts.

Overall, expect Knox to improve upon his rookie season performance. With a now more diverse skillset on the offensive end and a year of NBA experience under his belt, he has the chance to become a more effective and efficient scorer.