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New York Knicks: The Five X-Factors For The 2016-17 Season

By Maxwell Ogden

Jan 10, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Lance Thomas (42) saves the ball from going out of bounds by bouncing it off of Milwaukee Bucks shooting guard Khris Middleton (22) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Lance Thomas (42) saves the ball from going out of bounds by bouncing it off of Milwaukee Bucks shooting guard Khris Middleton (22) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 11, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Spain center Guillermo Hernangomez Geuer (14) dunks over Nigeria defense during the men’s preliminary round in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 1. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 11, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Spain center Guillermo Hernangomez Geuer (14) dunks over Nigeria defense during the men’s preliminary round in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 1. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Willy Hernangomez

Position: Center
Age: 22 (5/27/1994)
Experience: Rookie
2015-16 Slash Line (Liga ACB): .667/.000/.745
2015-16 Per 36 Averages (Liga ACB): 18.8 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 4.2 ORPG, 1.2 APG, 1.6 BPG, 1.3 SPG

The New York Knicks signed Joakim Noah to a four-year contract worth roughly $72 million. Noah’s health admittedly makes him something of an X-Factor, but his defensive intensity, consistency as a rebounder, and lethality as a passer remain intact.

Thus, rather than Noah making this list, it’s the player who’s most commonly expected to be his backup: Willy Hernangomez.

Hernangomez was selected at No. 35 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. He played in Spain’s vaunted Liga ACB from 2011 to 2016, splitting time between powerhouse Real Madrid and Baloncesto Sevilla.

During his time in Sevilla, Hernangomez started alongside Knicks phenom Kristaps Porzingis to form a productive and promising interior.

This past summer, Hernangomez helped Spanish national team win the Olympic bronze medal. He scored 16 points in 17 minutes against France, had 11 points in 16 minutes against Nigeria, and scored nine points in 17 minutes against Lithuania.

With the Knicks lacking any form of reliability at the backup center position, Hernangomez will need to carry that momentum over from Rio to the NBA.

Next: Backup Shooting Guard

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