New York Knicks: Who stood out during preseason opener?

Tim Hardaway Jr.

Tim Hardaway Jr. was the best New York Knicks player on the floor. He shot the lights out from beyond the arc, rebounded hard, made a number of eye-opening passes, and even played with solid energy on defense.

It would have been nice to see Hardaway drive the lane on a more consistent basis, but it’s hard to blame him for shooting threes when his shot was as hot as it was.

In his first game since signing a $71 million contract with the Knicks, Hardaway recorded a team-high 17 points in 25 minutes. He shot just 6-of-15 from the field, but managed to go 5-of-11 from beyond the arc in a brilliant display from distance.

Hardaway added seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals in a promising exhibit of the high-quality player he’s developing into.

Beyond the numbers, Hardaway did an excellent job of contributing to the flow on offense. He spaced the floor in a borderline dominant manner, made phenomenal outlet passes, and helped cultivate a steady pace in transition.

Hardaway will need to show more as far as driving the lane is concerned, but he’s well on his way to a successful season with the Knicks in 2017-18.