New York Knicks: Courtney Lee, Lance Thomas voted team captains
Prior to the 2017-18 NBA regular season, the New York Knicks voted for two team captains. The winners of the vote: Courtney Lee and Lance Thomas.
While some may view a youth movement as a purge of all players over the age of 25, New York Knicks general manager Scott Perry has a different interpretation. The younger players become the core of the team, but the veterans are of undeniable significance.
Between their leadership in their locker room and their guidance on and off the court, the presence of the right veterans can be as important to a successful youth movement as the talent itself.
Talent is what enables winning, but a culture is what makes the results sustainable—whether positive or otherwise. In order to build that culture, a franchise needs the right veterans to help establish positive work habits. New York has taken it upon itself to reward those very players.
According to Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News, the Knicks’ players voted Courtney Lee and Lance Thomas as the team captains prior to the 2017-18 regular season.
"A teammate revealed Wednesday that, prior to the season, players picked Thomas and Courtney Lee as their co-captains."
Following Wednesday’s 99-88 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, Thomas expounded upon the honor and responsibility of being team captain
"“A lot of responsibility comes with it. You have to practice what you preach,” he said. “I have the guys’ respect because I do that. I tell guys the truth and I live in the uncomfortable. I’m not afraid to call a teammate out or push for them to be better. I’m not a guy who has a comfort zone. Some guys aren’t vocal, I’m all of those things and that’s something I take pride in with this team. And I’m honored.”"
The players could have easily voted for the marquee names, but instead, they gave their votes to two of the roster’s elder statesmen—and with good reason.
Lee and Thomas are no-nonsense players who only rarely produce big numbers, but almost always show up on defense. Their execution may not always be at an All-Defensive Team level, but their commitment and energy rarely waver.
That sets an excellent example for the younger players, who have undeniably shown flashes of defensive potential throughout the 2017-18 season.
It’s no coincidence that, during one of the Knicks’ best performances to date, it was Lee and Thomas who played featured roles.
New York allowed Memphis to score 32 points in the first quarter of Wednesday’s encounter, but held it to a mere 56 points the rest of the way. Thomas’ versatile defense was as big a factor as any, as reflected by his absurd +/- of +26—easily a game-high.
Lee took care of things on the other end of the floor, scoring a game-high 24 points and dishing out three assists during a performance that helped redefine the word, “Clutch.”
Lee and Thomas certainly handled things well in the fourth quarter, but per usual, it was the co-captains’ contributions along the way that stifled the opponent’s attempts at going on a run.
Must Read: Who stepped up against the Memphis Grizzlies?
Courtney Lee and Lance Thomas may not be household names around the NBA, but for the New York Knicks, they’re the best possible choices to be team captains.