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New York Knicks: 5 players Mindaugas Kuzminskas should study

By Maxwell Ogden

AUBURN HILLS, MI - MARCH 11: Mindaugas Kuzminskas #91 of the New York Knicks handles the ball during a game against the Detroit Pistons on March 11, 2017 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, MI - MARCH 11: Mindaugas Kuzminskas #91 of the New York Knicks handles the ball during a game against the Detroit Pistons on March 11, 2017 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – APRIL 23: Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz high fives fans as he heads to the locker room after the game against the LA Clippers in Game Four during the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2017 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – APRIL 23: Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz high fives fans as he heads to the locker room after the game against the LA Clippers in Game Four during the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2017 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

5. Joe Ingles

Beyond the fact that they’re both international players, Joe Ingles and Mindaugas Kuzminskas share a number of similarities. Both stand at 6’8″ or taller, both have wingspans of 6’10” or longer, both are skilled offensively, and both have a rugged toughness about them.

Both also arrived in the NBA relatively late in their respective careers, which makes Ingles the perfect player for Kuzminskas to begin his studies with.

Ingles is coming off of a 2016-17 season during which he became an advanced metrics fan favorite. He shot the lights out from beyond the arc, competed vigorously on defense, and even displayed an ability to facilitate the offense.

Ingles finished 2016-17 at No. 12 amongst small forwards in Real Plus Minus, recording positive marks on both ends of the floor.

With no hyperbole whatsoever, Kuzminskas is capable of everything that Ingles has accomplished with the Utah Jazz. Ingles has a naturally stronger build, but Kuzminskas is slightly taller and longer, which should help him provide a similar level of two-way versatility.

If Kuzminskas polishes his already solid jump shot and commits to defending at a high level, the rest of his game will shine under the New York City lights.

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