Westchester Knicks Season Review: Von Wafer
After Von Wafer was seeking another opportunity, he joined the NBA G League. How did Wafer perform during the 2016-17 season?
After being selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the No. 39 pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, Von Wafer played in 200 career games over the course of his seven-year career in the Association. Before Wafer joined the NBA G League, he last played with Leones de Ponce of Puerto Rican Baloncesto Superior Nacional during the 2015-16 season.
Four months after Von Wafer wrapped up his season in Puerto Rico, he was seeking an opportunity to get back into the NBA.
What was the best way for Wafer to accomplish that? The NBA G League.
Before the 2016-17 season tipped off, the Florida State product received an opportunity in the NBA G League with the Delaware 87ers. When Wafer said he received the call from the Sevens, he said it was one of the best days of his life.
“I was happy. I was just happy,” Von Wafer said in February of 2017. “I thought it was just one of the best days of my life when I received that call because when I was on the outside looking in, it didn’t look like I was ever going to get that call. So when I got it, it just felt good to get it.”
Von Wafer only spent five games in Delaware before getting traded to the Westchester Knicks. On Dec. 14, 2016, Wafer was traded to Westchester for Devondrick Walker. He made his debut two days later against the Texas Legends where he recorded 13 points and two rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench.
As soon as Von Wafer arrived in Westchester, he showed that he was a scoring weapon off the bench. He scored in double figures in his first three games while shooting 66.6 percent (6-of-9) from beyond the arc. In two of those games, the Knicks were victorious.
The 6-foot-5 guard had a solid stretch of games leading up to the NBA G League Showcase. He was scoring and shooting the ball well. As the Knicks opened the NBA G League Showcase, Wafer had one of his most productive games of the season. The 6-year NBA veteran has shown previously that he can perform well on the big stage.
The Florida State product totaled 23 points, five rebounds, five assists, and three steals on 9-of-14 shooting from the field and a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc.
“It’s crazy because I don’t even have my legs under me because I had to get back used to this style of basketball,” Wafer said in February. “I’m back in China where I’m the man. I’m shooting the ball every time. I had to find my rhythm [and] find my spots. I’m just doing that. I’m just trying to get better. Just trying to get back in a rhythm more how things go here; how the basketball is played here.”
It didn’t stop there. Von Wafer’s carried his production and efficiency following the NBA G League Showcase. In the six games after the NBA G League Showcase, Wafer played a huge role in the team’s offense. In those six games, he averaged 20.8 points per game on 49.4 percent shooting from the field and 47.0 percent from 3-point range.
Could Von Wafer top any of the performances he had during the season?
Not only did Wafer manage to have his best shooting games of the season, but he fell a tad short of tying Doron Lamb’s franchise-record 40-point performance. The NBA veteran was knocking down shots effortlessly. Wafer finished the game with 35 points on 13-of-20 shooting from the field and 7-of-11 from deep in 29 minutes off the bench.
In 26 games with Westchester, Wafer averaged 15.9 points and 2.8 rebounds on 50.8 percent shooting from the field and 46.3 percent from deep. With a minimum of 20 games played, he led Westchester in 3-point percentage and was seventh in the NBA G League in the same category.
Must Read: Von Wafer: One Moment, One Opportunity
Shortly after the 2016-17 season concluded, it was reported that Von Wafer was set to play with the Shaanxi Wolves of the Chinese NBL. In the early stages of the NBL season, Wafer has been shooting lights out. In a recent game, the Florida State product recorded 50 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists on 9-of-17 shooting from beyond the arc.
In eight games with the Shaanxi Wolves, Wafer is averaging 36.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.9 steals on 60.4 percent shooting from the field and 51.5 percent from deep in 43.1 minutes per game.