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Evaluating Kevin Knox’s tenure with the New York Knicks

By Holden Walter-Warner

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 04: Kevin Knox II #20 of the New York Knicks runs back to defend against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Madison Square Garden on March 04, 2020 in New York City. The Utah Jazz won, 112-104. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 04: Kevin Knox II #20 of the New York Knicks runs back to defend against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Madison Square Garden on March 04, 2020 in New York City. The Utah Jazz won, 112-104. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) /
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New York Knicks, Kevin Knox II
PORTLAND, OREGON – JANUARY 24: Kevin Knox II #20 of the New York Knicks reacts in the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on January 24, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

After more than three years, the Kevin Knox era has mercifully come to an end in the Big Apple. The New York Knicks included him in a deal that netted them forward Cam Reddish from the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday.

Knox came to the franchise with a lot of promise, a lottery selection out of John Calipari’s Kentucky prospect factory. He leaves having never been the focal point of the franchise, topped on the totem pole by several young players who came in the intervening years.

Evaluating Kevin Knox’s tenure with the New York Knicks

The forward is arguably an example of the follies of scouting college players without much experience. Knox was great as a freshman with the Wildcats, averaging 15.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He earned the SEC Freshman of the Year and First Team All-SEC honors during his lone season in Lexington.

Knox never came close to approaching those numbers during his time with the Knicks, though. For his career, he has averaged 8.2 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. He went from the full-time starter as a rookie to starting just four games in his last three seasons with the team.

Knicks fans can’t be mad the team didn’t take Trae Young or Luka Doncic in 2018 – they were already off the board. But the three players drafted directly after Knox were Mikal Bridges, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Miles Bridges.

Further down the draft chart, fans can find Michael Porter Jr., Jalen Brunson, and now-former Knicks teammate Mitchell Robinson. Kendrick Nunn and Duncan Robinson weren’t even drafted.

So what happened to Knox? Let’s go through his Knicks tenure, year by year.

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