New York Knicks: Don’t Forget About Dennis Smith In 2017 NBA Draft

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Feb 25, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Dennis Smith Jr. (4) drives to the basket as Virginia Cavaliers guard Devon Hall (0) defends during the first half at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Scoring Instincts

A key separation that must be made is scoring ability from scoring instincts. A number of players can put points on the board with a well-rounded offensive skill set, but only a select few truly know how to put those gifts to use.

In the case of Dennis Smith, there aren’t many players in this draft class who display a more natural ability to fill up the scoreboard—a quality of a potentially great New York Knicks guard.

Smith finished his freshman season with averages of 18.1 points and 1.7 3-point field goals made in 34.8 minutes per game. He did so on an efficient slash line of .455/.359/.715, which becomes all the more impressive when one considers the caliber of talent he was surrounded by.

While others remained efficient against single coverage created by the talent level of those around them, Smith was consistently forced to dribble into double teams.

What Smith has working for him is a combination of explosive athleticism, finishing ability, and a nifty jump shot. He not only rose above players to finish, but was crafty enough to weave through traffic and find the slightest of openings to get a shot off.

Smith is a workhorse on the offensive end of the floor who will only continue to improve if he puts the work in to polish his already intriguing jumper.

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