New York Knicks: Kyle O’Quinn continues to make most of opportunities
New York Knicks center Kyle O’Quinn is an unsung hero who continues to make the most of his opportunities to contribute to the betterment of the team.
The 2017-18 NBA regular season hasn’t been kind to New York Knicks fans. The Knicks will miss the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season, Kristaps Porzingis suffered a season-ending knee injury, and Tim Hardaway Jr. has missed 22 games himself.
Knowing all of that to be true, one can’t help but look for silver linings—a process that inevitably averts one’s attention to Kyle O’Quinn.
O’Quinn has emerged as a fan favorite over the course of his three seasons with the Knicks. His big and powerful frame is complemented by a wonderful sense of humor that’s allowed him to endear himself to fans and teammates alike.
It’s on the court, however, where O’Quinn’s contributions have been oddly overlooked and devalued by a jaded fan base.
O’Quinn is a throwback to an era of Knicks basketball that produced indisputably rewarding results. It was a time when physicality was a brand and defense was an identity for one of the most feared teams in the NBA.
Despite bringing a throwback presence to the court and locker room, however, O’Quinn hasn’t truly received the respect he deserves.
The primary knock against O’Quinn is that he’s a traditional big man in an era that favors athleticism and guard-like skills. It’s a somewhat fair concern, as the starting centers on the contenders of today aren’t exactly the throwback type.
O’Quinn has provided the Knicks with a positive influence on both ends of the floor, however, and he should be appreciated for that very reason.
New York is 4.6 points per 100 possessions better with O’Quinn on the court than when he isn’t. It has its second-best net rating with O’Quinn on the floor and its fourth-worst mark when O’Quinn is off the court.
Furthermore, O’Quinn ranks 16th amongst centers in Real Plus-Minus and boasts top-20 rankings at the position in both Offensive and Defensive RPM.
Furthermore, O’Quinn has been one of the most efficient players in the NBA. He’s currently averaging 6.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.4 offensive boards, 2.0 assists, and 1.2 blocks in just 17.7 minutes per game.
Those numbers translate to averages of 14.2 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.9 offensive boards, 4.1 assists, and 2.5 blocks per 36 minutes.
Furthermore, O’Quinn is shooting 58.5 percent from the field and 76.7 percent from the free throw line. Finding a big who can score with efficiency from the floor and the charity stripe is rare enough.
Adding the fact that O’Quinn is an excellent passer and has value on the defensive end of the floor, and he’s a rather unique player.
The issues that O’Quinn has encountered have more to do with playing time than anything else. His style of play results in high personal foul totals, which inevitably limits the number of minutes he can receive each game.
That all-out approach to rebounding and playing defense is a plus, however, as it fits the type of identity that the Knicks are attempting to rediscover.
A center who’s willing to embrace the physicality of Knicks basketball is exactly whom the organization needs. Some may debate how much money New York should offer O’Quinn, but his value to the team is undeniable.
Come the 2017-18 home finale on April 9, Knicks fans should show O’Quinn how much they appreciate what he’s contributed over the past three seasons.
Must Read: 2018 NBA Mock Draft: Full first round following the National Championship Game
Kyle O’Quinn is a throwback to the golden years of New York Knicks basketball.