NBA Comparisons
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the New York Knicks opting to sign Ron Baker is how similar he is to their head coach. For those unfamiliar, Jeff Hornacek carved out an 14-year career as a wildly successful combo guard.
Much like Hornacek, Baker is a competitive player who can space the floor, handle the ball, facilitate, and defend—so why not let Hornacek coach and develop him?
The other comparison for Baker is 13-year NBA veteran Kirk Hinrich. A skilled and versatile offensive player who can keep the opposition honest, and a rugged defender whose fundamentals are impeccable, Hinrich has been the ultimate role player.
Not only does Baker fit that profile, but he checks another box: just like Hinrich in Chicago, Baker would be playing alongside Derrick Rose.
Whether he plays more like Hinrich or Hornacek, it’s clear that Baker has game and versatility. The No. 1 reason New York should give him a chance is that parallels that can be drawn between player and coach.
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Nothing is guaranteed in the NBA, but the pairing of Baker and Hornacek is as promising as one could possibly find with an undrafted free agent.