New York Knicks: Emmanuel Mudiay remaining confident
New York Knicks point guard Emmanuel Mudiay has experienced exhilarating highs and devastating lows during his brief tenure. Through it all, he’s remaining confident.
There are critical steps that New York Knicks point guard Emmanuel Mudiay is going to have to take towards realizing his potential in the NBA. His jump shot is erratic, his aggressive style of play can hinder his decision making, and his defensive intensity isn’t nearly as reliable as it needs to be.
Mudiay has the potential to become an All-Star point guard, however, and his maturity in the face of adversity is already working in his favor.
Mudiay was selected at No. 7 overall at the 2015 NBA Draft—just three spots after Knicks star Kristaps Porzingis. Thus, New York was thrilled to acquire Mudiay at the 2018 NBA trade deadline.
Unfortunately, the move has lost some of its luster due to Mudiay’s abhorrent slash line of .330/.125/.633 in nine games with the Knicks.
According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, Mudiay knows that the only way he’s going to break out of this cold stretch will be by keeping his head down and continuing to work.
"“I just got to clear my head, really,’’ said Mudiay after the workout. “I’ve been struggling the last three games. It’s no secret. I got to keep working. That’s the main thing. Trust the process, keep working, not being in my own head and it was the best thing for me.’’"
Instant gratification would certainly be nice, but the reality in life and the NBA is that progress requires both time and patience.
Mudiay’s shot hasn’t been falling, but he’s been a breath of fresh air in more ways than one. He’s been the penetrating point guard whom Jeff Hornacek‘s offense has been missing, with a rare ability to take defenders off the bounce at virtual will.
Mudiay also has exceptional court vision for a player his age—a truth that’s translated to 5.1 assists per game and 7.6 assists per 36 minutes.
Once Mudiay becomes more decisive as a facilitator, he should round into form as one of the better distributors in the NBA.
What’s held Mudiay back early in his career has been the unreliable jump shot that limits the rest of his game. Without the ability to make opponents pay for going under against the pick and roll, the offense can stall as he forces himself to dribble to a less ideal angle for a pass or midrange J.
If Mudiay puts in the work to become a more reliable shooting threat, however, the rest of his game should fall into place.
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Only time, patience, and hard work will help New York Knicks point guard Emmanuel Mudiay fix this flaw.