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Knicks Rumors: Reasons To Love The Brandon Jennings Signing

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 26, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Orlando Magic guard Brandon Jennings (55) dribbles the ball around New York Knicks guard Langston Galloway (2) during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Orlando Magic guard Brandon Jennings (55) dribbles the ball around New York Knicks guard Langston Galloway (2) during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 19, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Brandon Jennings (55) looks on against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Dallas Mavericks 110-104. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 19, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Brandon Jennings (55) looks on against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Dallas Mavericks 110-104. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Something To Prove

The New York Knicks will start four players who have been to the Conference Finals or NBA Finals: Carmelo Anthony, Courtney Lee, Joakim Noah, and Derrick Rose. Coupled with Kristaps Porzingis’ unquenchable thirst for improvement, the starting five will be starving for success.

Though he’s only 26 years of age, Brandon Jennings is out to prove himself as someone who belongs in the NBA—a strange reality for a player who was a borderline All-Star in 2014-15.

Jennings has been cast as a player who’s more about his personal statistics than the success of the team. Those who criticize him for such tend to ignore how unselfish he was in accepting a backup role to Reggie Jackson in Detroit, and Elfrid Payton in Orlando.

Just over 24 hours before he was signed by the Knicks, Jennings addressed those inaccurate criticisms head-on.

In other words, Jennings has something to prove in 2016-17—and that’s an incredibly important truth for the Knicks.

There’s no player more valuable in the NBA than one who’s hungry for success. No matter their limitations, a coach will never have to question their effort when said player is motivated by outside factors.

That’s the exact definition of the Knicks’ roster entering 2016-17: everyone seems to have something to prove.

For Jennings, it’s that he’s both hungry and healthy; for Noah and Rose, it’s the same. For Anthony, it’s that he’s more than just a future Hall of Famer with a great regular season resume; he’s a superstar who wants to win.

Thus, while some might question the stability of the roster, Phil Jackson has built a rotation that’s flush with players who have something to prove.

must read: Free agent shooters whom the Knicks should sign

No offseason move is risk-free, but Jackson has positioned the Knicks to make a statement in 2016-17 as a veteran team with a rising star and a hunger for success—an identity that Jennings’ signing legitimizes.

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