New York Knicks: Breaking down every player on Summer League roster
Jamel Artis
Position: Guard/Forward
Age: 24 (1/12/1993)
Experience: Rookie
2016-17 Slash Line (College): .475/.392/.734
2016-17 Season Averages (College): 34.3 MPG, 18.2 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.3 APG, 2.3 3PM
Key Strengths
- Scoring versatility
- Positional versatility
- 3-point shooting
- Playmaking ability
Key Weaknesses
- Athleticism
- Defensive inconsistency
Analysis
The New York Knicks recently signed Jamel Artis to a partially-guaranteed contract. That doesn’t necessarily guarantee that Artis will make the main roster, but he’s piqued enough interest to earn a small leap of faith from the front office.
If the Knicks are going to make the most of this acquisition, then that process will begin with acknowledging what Artis does and doesn’t do well.
Artis converted 162 3-point field goals on 38.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc between his sophomore and senior seasons. That includes the 74 he converted on 39.2 percent shooting during his senior campaign—a sign of which skill could help him find his place in the NBA.
Beyond his 3-point shooting, Artis is a skilled slasher who got to the line at a rate of 5.2 free throw attempts per 40 minutes between 2014-15 and 2016-17.
Artis needs to tone his body and become a more fluid athlete, which will be the key to him making the necessary improvements on defense. He has the size and length to be solid on D, however, and the rest comes down to his conditioning.
Artis is also a skilled passer—3.9 assists per 40 minutes between 2015-16 and 2016-17—which inevitably appealed to Phil Jackson.