Daily Knicks
Fansided

New York Knicks: Handing out awards for the 2017-18 NBA season

By Maxwell Ogden

PHOENIX, AZ - JANUARY 26: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks before the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on January 26, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - JANUARY 26: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks before the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on January 26, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 7
Next
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 23: Tim Hardaway Jr. #3 of the New York Knicks shoots a free throw against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 23, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 23: Tim Hardaway Jr. #3 of the New York Knicks shoots a free throw against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 23, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Most Improved Player: Tim Hardaway Jr.

I’m not entirely sure that New York Knicks fans appreciated how much Tim Hardaway Jr. overcame during the 2017-18 season. Not only was this his first season averaging upwards of 30 minutes per game, but Hardaway suffered a stress fracture in his left leg that sidelined him for upwards of a month.

Despite facing adversity at every turn, Hardaway turned in a season that proved he can handle the increased workload and responsibility that comes with a $71 million contract.

Hardaway finished the 2017-18 season with averages of 17.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and 2.3 three-point field goals made per game. Every one of those marks set a new career-high, as did the 3.1 free throws he attempted per contest.

Hardaway’s efficiency must improve from his 2017-18 slash line of .421/.317/.816, but when one considers the injury factor, he played better than the numbers imply.

What makes Hardaway’s success so intriguing is the fact that he produced this career-year while playing out of position. The long-time shooting guard played the 3 in Jeff Hornacek‘s necessarily unorthodox lineup, and managed to rank No. 18 amongst small forwards in Real Plus-Minus.

That includes a ranking of No. 11 in offensive RPM and a drastic improvement in defensive RPM—factors that play into what was a justified first year of a $71 million deal.

Home/Knicks News