New York Knicks: Five reasons to love Ron Baker re-signing

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NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 02: Kristaps Porzingis #6 and the rest of the bench celebrate after teammate Mindaugas Kuzminskas #91 hit a three point shot in the second half against the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden on January 2, 2017 in New York City.(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

5. The Respect Of The Locker Room

It took just one season for Ron Baker to earn the respect of his teammates, coaches, and executives alike. His work ethic was heralded by all, and his energy breathed life into an otherwise sluggish team of former All-Stars and veterans.

Some may want the New York Knicks to stick to signing star-caliber players, but it’s contributors like Baker who can help hold a locker room together—especially now that he’s not a rookie.

Phil Jackson consistently praised Baker for his defensive tenacity and consistency in showing up every day for work. Head coach Jeff Hornacek publicly petitioned for the organization to re-sign Baker mere hours before the deal got done.

Even Carmelo Anthony has gone as far as to publicly praise Baker for his contributions, energy, and level-headedness.

When a player commands that much respect in the locker room, it’s only rational to bring them back for another season. There are early signs of leadership qualities, and every locker room needs a player who displays those traits—no matter what happens on the court.

The fact that Baker is still developing into a quality NBA player is just an added bonus to the locker room value he possesses.