New York Knicks: 3 players that exceeded expectations this year

New York Knicks that exceeded expectations: 3. Nerlens Noel

Once deemed a top prospect in the 2013 NBA Draft, Nerlens Noel has failed to live up to expectations. He was considered the top selection before tearing his ACL at the University of Kentucky. He was, however, still selected in the top 10, ultimately falling to the No. 6 pick.

Through his first few seasons, Noel’s defense stood out, but he hadn’t become the star he was projected to be. Even so, the Dallas Mavericks offered him a four-year, $70 million contract following the 2016-17 season. Noel turned it down, betting on himself which did not pay off.

That said, the New York Knicks were not expecting large production from Noel when they signed him to back up Mitchell Robinson in the 2020-21 season.

Well, Noel proved not only that he can be a reliable backup center, but he showcased his talent and potential to be a consistent, starting center on a playoff team.

When Robinson was sidelined with an injury in mid February, Noel took over and started in 41 of the 42 games he played in averaging 5.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. These numbers are fairly similar to his season averages, and most notably his 2.2 BPG over the full season was the third best in the league.

Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau, a defensive specialist, utilized Noel’s skills the best way possible. He was the anchor of the Knicks’ defense which was ranked first in terms of opponents points per game and third for defensive rating.

But with Noel’s resurgence, he’ll become more desirable by other teams now that he’s an unrestricted free agent. Should he get an offer similar to the four-year, $70 million deal the Mavericks offered? No, that would be absurd. However, Noel has earned himself the right for a multi-year deal, providing him with some security for the next few seasons.

Robinson will be healthy next season and should return to the starting lineup, but the Knicks should still resign Noel. His impact defensively was key to the Knicks success and if they expect to surpass those heights, they’ll need him back.