Mindaugas Kuzminskas
When Mindaugas Kuzminskas takes the floor, the New York Knicks play better. That’s a broad statement about a low-profile player, but entering the T-Wolves game, the had have a net rating of +6.8 with Kuzminskas on the floor and -6.3 when he isn’t.
Against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kuzminskas had the best performance of his blossoming NBA career.
.@MKuzminskas: "I was happy those shots fell but most importantly we got the win." #Knicks #NYKvsMIN
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 1, 2016
Kuzminskas poured in a career-high 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field and a 4-of-5 mark from beyond the arc. He added two offensive rebounds and an assist in what was easily the best showing of his brief and promising career.
The four 3-point field goals made were nothing short of invaluable for a Knicks team that got limited offense from the starters.
Kuzminskas scored 10 points against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, November 22, which makes this performance more of a follow-up than an outlier. He looked the part of a rising star during the preseason and continues to do so in the regular season.
The Knicks have a chance to be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. The emergence of Mindaugas Kuzminskas will play a major role in that.