Former New York Knicks head coach Jeff Van Gundy weighed in on the current state of the organization. Van Gundy’s take: It’s all about the young core.
Few coaches have led the New York Knicks to more success than Jeff Van Gundy. Over the course of his seven seasons in New York, Van Gundy led the Knicks to a record of 430-318 (.575), as well as runs to the 1999 NBA Finals and the 2000 Eastern Conference Finals.
Now one of the most respected analysts in all of basketball, Van Gundy has inevitably been asked to weigh in on the current state of the Knicks.
Since Van Gundy’s successful tenure with the Knicks came to an unceremonious end in 2001, the organization has been in shambles. It’s made the playoffs just four times in 16 years without Van Gundy, winning just one postseason series.
In a recent conference call, Van Gundy explained that the key to New York righting the ship will be the development of Kristaps Porzingis, Willy Hernangomez, and Frank Ntilikina (h/t Ian Begley of ESPN New York).
"“I think the Knicks obviously have declared what they want to do, which is rebuild, and so much is going to be — this season is going to be about Porzingis and Hernangomez, their development, and Frank’s ability to learn the NBA quickly at a difficult position and get him significant minutes to grow.”"
The Knicks have added a number of quality young players to the roster, but it’s that trio of contributors whom many expect to lead the organization into the future.
Porzingis was New York’s first top-5 draft pick since 1986, and Ntilikina was its second top-10 selection since 2009. Hernangomez, meanwhile, was a second-round draft pick who made the All-Rookie First Team in 2016-17.
The likes of Ron Baker, Damyean Dotson, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Enes Kanter round out the young core, but Van Gundy’s eyes are on Hernangomez, Ntilikina, and Porzingis.
Whether fair or foul, that European trio is widely regarded as the group that will lead the Knicks’ efforts to resurrect the glory years.
Porzingis is a 7’3″ phenom who can score in a variety of ways, and could potentially anchor the defense. Hernangomez is the physical rebounder and post player who provides balance down low, and Ntilikina has shown flashes as a playmaker and on-ball defender.
In Van Gundy’s eyes, it’s the develop of that dynamic trio that could save the Knicks from what’s going on 20 years of dysfunction.
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Considering Jeff Van Gundy is one of the greatest coaches in New York Knicks history, it’s only rational to value his opinion.