The New York Knicks are trusting Mindaugas Kuzminskas to build on a solid rookie season. Which players should Kuzminskas study as he molds his game?
One of the few bright spots from the 2016-17 NBA regular season was the potential displayed by Mindaugas Kuzminskas. The New York Knicks rookie received limited playing time, but his energy and fearlessness were a constant when he took the court.
As Kuzminskas makes waves at EuroBasket 2017 and prepares for the 2017-18 NBA season, it’s only fair to ponder what’s on the horizon.
Kuzminskas is expected to face a role of elevated importance during the 2017-18 season. Carmelo Anthony is on the trading block, the Knicks are embracing a youth movement, and head coach Jeff Hornacek is preparing to implement a more modern offense.
Anthony and Lance Thomas were the preferred options at small forward in 2016-17, but Kuzminskas is building significant momentum at EuroBasket.
In order to maximize his potential as an NBA player, Kuzminskas should study comparable players. There are no shortage of options to choose from, but a select few stand out as the best examples for the the 27-year-old to evaluate before and during his second season.
The question is: Which five players should New York Knicks forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas be studying in order to facilitate his individual growth?
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.
4. Phil Jackson
Reading Phil Jackson’s name likely elicits feelings of frustration over his tenure as team president of the New York Knicks. If you check that anger, however, you’ll either remember or come to learn that Jackson was a super sub for one of the only two Knicks teams to win an NBA championship.
With a similar build and a role that could end up being quite similar to Jackson’s, Mindaugas Kuzminskas should spend time watching film of his former team president.
The name of Jackson’s game was tenacity, with an incomparable level of toughness bleeding through. Despite undergoing spinal fusion surgery that forced him to miss the 1969-70 season, he routinely took charges, set screens, and threw caution to the wind when crashing the boards.
Kuzminskas has a similar level of toughness in him, and could thus fill that multifaceted role on both ends of the floor.
With the advantage of a consistent three-point shot, Kuzminskas can take less punishment en route to his success. Jackson can set a strong example for what’s needed out of a supporting player, however, as intensity simply can’t waver amongst those who complement the stars.
If Kuzminskas is going to become the Knicks’ next super sub, then Jackson is the type of player whom he should attempt to emulate.
3. Hedo Turkoglu
Not much more needs to be said than the fact that Hedo Turkoglu experienced a 15-year NBA career. Whether he was producing star-caliber numbers with the Orlando Magic or filling a multitude of roles with the Sacramento Kings, Turkoglu did it all.
As Mindaugas Kuzminskas looks for ways to positively impact the New York Knicks, Turkoglu may be the perfect case study.
Turkoglu was never an explosive athlete, but he carved out his 15-year career on the strength of his fundamental polish. He was an excellent three-point shooter who could attack a closeout, work from the post, and create offense for his teammates.
Once Kuzminskas has mastered the NBA three-point line, he should aim to follow Turkoglu’s example as an offensive renaissance man.
Kuzminskas’ instincts on offense are strong, which is one of the reasons why he’s become a fan favorite in New York. He’s displayed the ability to find the open man, if not pass his teammates open, and is already proving capable of playing the angles on the drive.
Kuzminskas may or may not provide the same level of production that Turkoglu managed to, but he’s playing in an era that’s far more favorable to such a style of play.
2. Peja Stojakovic
Few players have ever combined size and shooting proficiency as well as Peja Stojakovic. Between his days as an All-NBA player with the Sacramento Kings and his more reserved contributions with the New Orleans Hornets and Dallas Mavericks, Stojakovic was a master of the timely three.
As Mindaugas Kuzminskas attempts to find his offensive identity in the NBA, Stojakovic may be the best possible player for him to evaluate.
Stojakovic was a three-time All-Star and an All-NBA Second Team honoree in 2004. The foundation for his success was his shooting ability, as he knew exactly how much of a strength his size was when it came to getting shots off.
Studying Stojakovic could help Kuzminskas develop a better understanding of how his own size can help him as a shooter and overall scorer with the New York Knicks.
Beyond the shooting ability is the underrated fact that Stojakovic could work in isolation and get a quick bucket. Practicing with Carmelo Anthony has helped Kuzminskas in said regard, but Stojakovic is a better physical comparison.
With the threat of his jump shot established, Stojakovic could take an overzealous defender off the bounce or post him up from a reasonable distance. Kuzminskas can develop those same abilities.
1. Toni Kukoc
Mindaugas Kuzminskas has made it public knowledge that Toni Kukoc is his idol. Thus, while it’s fair to believe that someone else on this list could be the No. 1 player he should study, there’s rarely anyone better to emulate than one’s basketball deity.
Kukoc was one of the most well-rounded forwards in NBA history, and Kuzminskas is rightfully aiming to achieve a similar level of versatility.
Over the course of his 13-year NBA career, Kukoc won three championships and the 1996 Sixth Man of the Year award. His contributions spanned the entirety of the box score, and often ranged beyond statistics in the way he became a focal point of the opposing defense’s game plan.
When asked why he idolized Kukoc, Kuzminskas provided an answer that’s telling of his intentions as a player. Per the NBPA:
"My idol is Toni Kukoc because he did everything on the court, playing all the positions."
If Kuzminskas reaches a point where he can contribute in every phase and play multiple positions, then the New York Knicks will have a matchup nightmare on their hands.
What Kukoc did best was create a measure of unpredictability when he took the floor. He wasn’t the featured scorer or playmaker for the Chicago Bulls, but he was an outstanding passer, a solid shooter, a skilled post player, and a capable slasher who could do anything at any time.
Kuzminskas aims to be able to play a similar role in the NBA, which makes his idol the perfect player to study.
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Mindaugas Kuzminskas will have a chance to secure a significant role with the New York Knicks in 2017-18. Studying these five players could help him do so.