Mindaugas Kuzminskas
The New York Knicks may have found a gem in the form of Lithuanian small forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas. Having already made his name known by excelling in international competition, Kuzminskas has lended credence to the belief that he can thrive in the NBA.
Kuzminskas performed well throughout the 2016 NBA preseason—a trend that continued against the Brooklyn Nets.
Is there a Mindaugas Kuzminskas bandwagon? If so, how much are tickets and where can I get on?
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) October 21, 2016
Kuzminskas finished with 10 points, three rebounds, three assists, and a block on 4-of-6 shooting from the field. He scored five points in the final 4:24 alone, including a victory-sealing dunk that gave New York a 116-111 lead with roughly four seconds on the clock.
It was yet another strong showing for Kuzminskas, who has created the need for a conversation about the forward positions.
Whether he’s playing small forward or power forward, it’s becoming clear that Kuzminskas needs playing time. Not only was he productive during the preseason, but he’s not your average rookie; he’s 26 years of age and gained professional experience in Lithuania and Spain’s Liga ACB.
Though it’s too early to envision drastic changes being made, it must be noted that Kuzminskas thoroughly outplayed fellow small forward Lance Thomas this preseason.