New York Knicks: Players Who Stood Out Against Cleveland Cavaliers

Oct 25, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) fight for position with with New York Knicks center Joakim Noah (13) and forward Carmelo Anthony (7) in the first half at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) fight for position with with New York Knicks center Joakim Noah (13) and forward Carmelo Anthony (7) in the first half at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
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Mindaugas Kuzminskas

The minutes may not have been of much significance, but Mindaugas Kuzminskas performed well in his limited playing time. Following an excellent showing at the 2016 Summer Olympics and in the NBA preseason, Kuzminskas continued to play well in the season opener.

The opportunities were scarce, but the production and overall offensive versatility created reason to be overtly optimistic about the New York Knicks’ future.

The testament to Kuzminskas’ versatility is the fact that he drove the lane for a floater and hit a 3-point field goal. Standing at roughly 6’10”, Kuzminskas has a tantalizing combination of size and touch that few others possess.

Even the jaded announcing team responded with a call of, “This kid is good,” to echo the sentiments of Knicks nation.

Kuzminskas played just nine minutes, but he still managed to record seven points and a rebound on 3-of-5 shooting from the field. After averaging 24.3 points per 36 minutes during the preseason, Kuzminskas is at 28.0 after the season opener.

With more performances like this, it’d be difficult for head coach Jeff Hornacek to keep him low on the depth chart.