Daily Knicks
Fansided

New York Knicks: 5 players Luke Kornet should study

By Maxwell Ogden

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 16: Luke Kornet #3 of the Vanderbilt Commodores drives against Dererk Pardon #5 of the Northwestern Wildcats in the first half during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 16, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 16: Luke Kornet #3 of the Vanderbilt Commodores drives against Dererk Pardon #5 of the Northwestern Wildcats in the first half during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 16, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
04 Jan 2002: Raef LaFrentz #45 of the Denver Nuggets shoots over Corey Maggette #50 of the Los Angeles Clippers at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. DIGITAL IMAGE. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Licence Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright 2002 NBAE Mandatory Credit: William R. Sallaz/NBAE/Getty Images
04 Jan 2002: Raef LaFrentz #45 of the Denver Nuggets shoots over Corey Maggette #50 of the Los Angeles Clippers at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. DIGITAL IMAGE. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Licence Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright 2002 NBAE Mandatory Credit: William R. Sallaz/NBAE/Getty Images /

3. Raef LaFrentz

One could fairly argue that Ryan Anderson is the superior offensive player, but Raef LaFrentz had value on both ends of the floor. In addition to being ahead of his time as a sharpshooting big, LaFrentz was also a high-quality shot-blocker.

If Luke Kornet is aiming to embody the two-way aspect of the stretch 4 game, then LaFrentz would be an excellent example of whom he should emulate.

LaFrentz finished his NBA career with averages of 0.8 three-point field goals made and 1.6 blocks per game. His numbers translated to 1.2 three-point field goals made and 2.3 blocks per 36 minutes, which better displays his two-way abilities.

Kornet has the potential to thrive in a similar capacity, as evidenced by the fact that he averaged 1.5 three-point field goals made and 2.0 blocks per game in 2016-17.

What made LaFrentz even more difficult to play against was the fact that he could post players up and attack off the bounce. Those weren’t skills that he developed to an elite level, but they were weapons in his arsenal that kept defenses off balance.

Kornet has the tools to excel in a similar way, and studying what worked for LaFrentz would be a significant step in the right direction.

Home/Knicks Draft