Once scrutinized for his misleading advanced metrics, New York Knicks center Enes Kanter is proving his value to the team—both on and off the court.
The New York Knicks have received a stronger return on the Carmelo Anthony trade than most expected them to. Anthony may have been the biggest name in the trade, but the Knicks are finding ways to navigate the thin line between recognizability and genuine value.
While small forward Doug McDermott has become a revelation off the bench, center Enes Kanter has become an invaluable asset to the starting lineup.
Kanter was a super sub for the Oklahoma City Thunder, but the organization ultimately decided he was an expendable asset when Anthony became a realistic target. One man’s trash has become another man’s treasure, as Kanter has emerged as a critical contributor to the 11-10 Knicks.
According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, revered trainer Chris Brickley praised Kanter for his special work ethic and tireless nature.
"“Mentally [Enes] is on another level,’’ Brickley told The Post. “He pushed himself to the limit daily. As the summer progressed, I would have to sit down on my couch prior to the workout and think of different ways to get him tired because he would never get tired. It was actually kind of funny. He really has a special work ethic and nothing he has done this year has surprised me.’’"
It’s still early in the 2017-18 NBA regular season, but Kanter’s work is beginning to pay off during his first season with the Knicks.
Kanter received his fair share of criticism during the opening weeks of the 2017-18 NBA regular season. The past four games have changed fans’ tune, however, as Kanter’s absence led to three abysmal showings, and his return directly influenced a victory.
The truth is: Kanter has been playing a vital role in the team’s success since he arrived in New York. It simply took until now for many to realize it.
Individual Production
Since being drafted at No. 3 overall in the 2011 NBA Draft, Enes Kanter has become one of the most productive big men in the Association. He’s a walking double-double, a rebounding machine, and one of the most overwhelming post players of his era.
With the New York Knicks providing Kanter with his most consistent playing time since 2014-15, he’s establishing himself as the player many believed he could be.
Kanter is currently averaging 14.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.8 offensive boards, and 1.3 assists in just 26.1 minutes per game. Those are impressive numbers on the surface, but they’re even stronger when translated to 19.4 points, 14.3 rebounds, 5.3 offensive rebounds, and 1.8 assists per 36 minutes.
Throw in the fact that Kanter is shooting 64.3 percent from the field and 90.2 percent from the free throw line, and his value is undeniable.
Furthermore, despite playing just 26.1 minutes per game, Kanter currently ranks No. 10 in the NBA in points via post ups per game. Amongst players who attempt at least 2.0 shots from the post per game, he ranks No. 3 in the NBA in points per possession on post ups at 1.10.
Between his dominant rebounding and elite post play, Kanter has helped set the tone for what’s on pace to be a rewarding 2017-18 season for Knicks fans.
Impact On The Team
Posting big numbers is a way to capture the attention of the masses, but it doesn’t always coincide with aiding the pursuit of victory. Statistics always help in one way or another, yes, but they can be empty if the bad outweighs the good.
After years of struggling to find consistent playing time because of his defense, Kanter has finally achieved a measure of stability.
Over the course of the past 10 games, the New York Knicks are outscoring opponents by 12.4 points per 100 possessions when Kanter is on the court. By comparison, New York is being outscored by 3.5 points per 100 possessions when he isn’t.
That difference of 15.9 points per 100 possessions is a firm display of how valuable Kanter has become on both ends of the floor.
Still far from an elite defender, Kanter’s impact on the team has become undeniably positive. New York has defensive ratings of 99.7 with Kanter and 104.2 without him during that 10-game stretch. On the season, he has a positive Defensive Real Plus-Minus of 1.07.
There’s still room for improvement on both ends of the floor, but Kanter’s mere presence on the court has led to positive results.
Leadership
Fans outside of New York may never be able to understand why New York Knicks fans are so in favor of Enes Kanter’s antics. He seems to have no filter when it comes to trash talking, and isn’t afraid to get directly in the face of a world-renowned superstar.
Whether he’s the hero or the villain in the public eye, Kanter has no trouble sacrificing himself for his teammates both on and off the court.
When LeBron James made the comment that the Knicks made a mistake by not drafting Dennis Smith Jr., many were rubbed the wrong way. Criticizing the Knicks’ front office isn’t a crime against humanity, but James inadvertently implied that Frank Ntilikina was the wrong choice.
Kanter immediately jumped to Ntilikina’s defense via social media, and put his money where his mouth is when James attempted to punk the rookie during an ensuing game.
Nope!!
— Enes FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) November 12, 2017
We love what we got...
Thanks!!!https://t.co/eI6nTpghmQ
What’s followed have been a slew of tweets and comments that have displayed Kanter’s unwillingness to crumble beneath the presence of The King. It’s all in good fun, but it also goes a long way towards bringing New York back to a time when it was a fearless franchise that backed down from no one.
It may not sit well with everyone, but for the Knicks, this type of presence has been sorely missed since the days of Patrick Ewing and the blue collar teams of the 1990s.
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Enes Kanter still has 61 games to go, but he’s proving to have long-term value to the New York Knicks.