New York Knicks: Trey Burke makes history, solidifies NYK future
Trey Burke has the tools to be a long-term member of the New York Knicks. Last night, he proved as much by making history against the Charlotte Hornets.
Yesterday, Daily Knicks published a piece outlining why Trey Burke should have a long-term future with the New York Knicks. It was an appropriately timed article, as it preceded the best performance of Burke’s NBA career by mere hours.
In a duel with two-time All-Star and Charlotte Hornets franchise player Kemba Walker, Burke showed exactly why his development should be a top priority.
Burke entered Monday, Mar. 26 averaging 10.9 points, 3.7 assists, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.9 three-point field goals made in 17.9 minutes per game. That translated to 21.9 points, 7.5 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 1.0 steal, and 1.9 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes.
Few believed that he could actually average 22 points and eight assists per game, but the growing belief was that he could come close enough.
On Monday, Burke silenced the skeptics and proved that he’s still the elite talent who won a slew of 2013 National Player of the Year awards. He’s still the dynamic point guard who became a top-10 draft pick mere months later.
On Monday, Mar. 26, Burke proved that the belief that he has significant upside to explore is as valid as ever before.
Burke was nothing short of magnificent, recording a career-high 42 points on 19-of-31 shooting from the field. It was a dominant performance against an All-Star at his position, but the scoring wasn’t all that Burke did at will.
The former Michigan Wolverines star added 12 assists to just two turnovers—thus rounding out the epitome of individual dominance.
In the process, Burke became the first Knick to record at least 40 points and 10 assists in a single game since Stephon Marbury on Mar. 29, 2005. That alone speaks to his talent, although many will be quick to point out that Marbury’s tenure didn’t exactly end on the best of terms.
When one narrows the parameters, it becomes clearly how impressive his dominance truly was for the orange and blue.
Burke is the first Knick to record at least 42 points and 12 assists in a single game since Bernard King achieved the feat on Mar. 9,1985. He’s New York’s first player to record at least 40 points and 10 assists on 60 percent shooting or better since Walt Frazier on Mar. 31, 1977.
In other words: Burke just put his name in the ring with some of the greatest players—and with respect to Marbury, talents—in franchise history.
Clearly, there’s no possible way to guarantee that Burke will become a star in the same way as Frazier, King, or even Marbury. One game far from solidifies his status, but that’s what makes the performance so impressive.
This could be viewed as an outlier, but based on what he’s accomplished in 2017-18, it may not be as far from his capabilities as some believe.
Burke is now averaging 23.2 points, 7.6 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.8 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes. He’s doing so on an efficient slash line of .526/.384/.600, and has a somewhat solid sample size of 29 games played.
Moreover: In Burke’s only three games with at least 30 minutes played, he posted 42 points and 12 assists, 26 points and six assists, and 15 points and nine assists.
Burke has scored at least 15 points in nine of the 10 games during which he’s played at least 25 minutes in 2017-18. The lone exception was when he produced 11 points, six assists, two blocks, and one steal in a clash with the Sacramento Kings—during which he was a +6.
On the season, the Knicks now have net ratings of -1.9 when Burke is on the floor and -7.6 when he isn’t—a difference of 5.7 points per 100 possessions.
Must Read: Five reasons Trey Burke is earning a long-term future
The question is: Will Trey Burke continue to strengthen his work ethic and thus become the point guard who helps Frank Ntilikina, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Kristaps Porzingis lead the New York Knicks into the future?
Forgive the cliche, but the ball is officially in his court.