New York Knicks: Who stepped up with Kristaps Porzingis absent?

Kyle O’Quinn

It wouldn’t be hyperbolic to state that Kyle O’Quinn has become the heart and soul of the New York Knicks. Between his infectious tenacity on the court and his explosive displays of excitement when he’s cheering his teammates on from the bench, O’Quinn is New York’s primary source of energy.

Against the Orlando Magic, O’Quinn stepped up with yet another quality all-around performance that positively influenced the outcome of the game.

O’Quinn played 20 minutes against the Magic, tallying eight points, four rebounds, four assists, one offensive board, and a steal. He continued to create for others offensively, and maintained his excellent pace as a rebounder.

It’s also worth noting that O’Quinn amassed a +/- of +6 during a 13-point loss—a strong indication of his consistently positive impact.

A Queens native, O’Quinn has been the epitome of reliability for the Knicks during the 2017-18 campaign. He brings the energy on both ends of the floor, which has helped set the tone for an overachieving second unit.

11 games in, the Knicks have net ratings of +3.5 with O’Quinn on the court and -5.6 without him—a difference of 9.1 points per 100 possessions.

Must Read: Kristaps Porzingis values wins over statistics

The New York Knicks may have lost to the Orlando Magic, but a number of vital players capitalized on this unique opportunity to build confidence for when Kristaps Porzingis returns.