New York Knicks: Top 3 Players In Westchester Knicks History
1. Thanasis Antetokounmpo
This was a hard choice. Langston Galloway could have taken the top spot, but Thanasis Antetokounmpo claims the top spot.
Back in 2014, the New York Knicks were devoid of draft picks. Their first-round pick was traded to the Denver Nuggets as part of the Carmelo Anthony trade. The Nuggets eventually sent that pick to the Orlando Magic.
Their second-round pick was traded to the Houston Rockets back in 2012 when the team acquired Marcus Camby.
With no draft picks, Phil Jackson found a way to get into the draft. Jackson sent Raymond Felton and Tyson Chandler to the Dallas Mavericks for José Calderón, Wayne Ellington, Shane Larkin, Samuel Dalembert, and two 2014 second-round picks. With one of those second-round picks, No. 51, the Knicks selected Thanasis Antetokounmpo.
While Antetokounmpo was on the Knicks’ roster for the 2014 Summer League, he didn’t make the main roster. With the Knicks having their own D-League affiliate that season, Westchester acquired their second-round pick.
Even though Weschester didn’t have many bright spots during their inaugural season, New York was impressed by the 6’7” forward. Antetokounmpo believed he had a great opportunity to secure a roster spot. He turned down a two-year deal worth $550,000 to be in the D-League, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. He showcased his defensive ability, along with his potential on offense.
In his first season with Westchester, Antetokounmpo averaged 13.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.7 blocks in 32.9 minutes per game. In addtion, he was named to the 2015 NBA D-League All-Defensive Second Team.
New York brought back their 2014 second-round pick for the 2015 Summer League. He appeared in three preseason games before he was waived. He returned to their D-League affiliate.
Antetokounmpo was one of four players—Jordan Bachynski, Cleanthony Early and Ben Strong— who returned for Westchester’s second season.
From the first season to the second, it was night and day. The Knicks started off the season 6-0 and he scored in double figures in three of those games. One issue that Antetokounmpo had was inconsistency.
He would total 26 points while shooting 10-of-12 from the field. The following game, he would finish with 5 points while shooting 1-of-5 from the field. There were players such as Jimmer Fredette, Travis Trice, and Bachynski were relied upon more for scoring.
Even with that, the Knicks forward was still a contributor to the team. He’s a gifted athlete on both ends of the floor. Antetokounmpo could run the fast break and slam down a dunk in transition.
A week before he received a 10-day call-up, Thanasis Antetokounmpo finished with 22 points and shot 10-15 from the field. He kept showing flashes of offensive ability, which was something the New York Knicks were hoping to see.
The Knicks signed him to a 10-day contract on January 29, 2016. On that same night, he finished with two points in two minutes of action. Two days later, he scored four points and pick up one rebound in four minutes.
New York didn’t offer him another contract after his 10-day contract expired. He returned to Westchester on February 9 to take on the Iowa Energy.
Antetokounmpo stayed with Westchester for the rest of the 2015-16 season. When the Knicks made the playoffs in 2016, he was the only player on the roster who was a part of Westchester’s first game on November 16, 2014.
There’s no question the New York Knicks valued Thanasis Antetokounmpo when the team drafted him in 2014. Even though he was raw on offense, they saw his defense and athleticism as an asset.
The Greek native provided many highlights throughout his career. He had the memory of a lifetime in 2014 when he got drafted into the NBA.
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Along with that, he had the opportunity to live out his dream by playing in the NBA.