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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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Mar 29, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Brandon Jennings (55) drives to the basket as Brooklyn Nets guard Wayne Ellington (21) defends during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Brandon Jennings (55) drives to the basket as Brooklyn Nets guard Wayne Ellington (21) defends during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Brandon Jennings

Position: Point Guard
Age: 26 (9/23/1989)
Experience: 7 Seasons
2015-16 Slash Line: .368/.329/.731
2015-16 Season Averages: 18.1 MPG, 6.9 PPG, 3.5 APG, 2.0 RPG, 0.6 SPG, 1.1 3PM

If Lance Thomas’ contract wasn’t enough of a bargain for you, then Phil Jackson should’ve won you over with the deal he gave to Brandon Jennings. A career starter in the NBA, Jennings signed a one-year contract worth $5 million.

That was well below what many believed to be his market value, which has thus created optimism in New York—optimism that will only be justified if Jennings stays healthy.

Jennings has been generally healthy throughout his seven-year NBA career. He played at least 80 games in three of his first five seasons in the league and was active for all 66 games in the lockout-shortened 2011-12 campaign.

Unfortunately, Jennings ruptured his achilles tendon after playing just 41 games during the 2014-15 campaign and was active for just 48 games in 2015-16.

When healthy, Jennings is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the NBA. Career averages of 15.5 points, 5.9 assists, and 1.8 3-point field goals made prove as much. He shot just 36.8 percent from the field in 2015-16, however, which has created skepticism about how much he has left.

Jennings will be 27 years of age at the start of the 2016-17 season, which births the hope that he can make good on the goal Jackson has set for him: Sixth Man of the Year.

Next: The Ultimate X-Factor

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