As the NBA weighs its options for the prestigious post-season awards, a question beckons: Which members of the New York Knicks deserve such praise?
The New York Knicks have come to the end of what can only be described as a rollercoaster ride of a 2017-18 regular season. There were exhilarating highs and devastating lows, with a limited amount of middle-ground to explore.
While a 29-53 record may imply that the season leaned heavily towards the negative, however, there were a number of reasons for optimism.
While the team may have struggled, a number of individuals made strong impressions. It may not have led to immediate success, but it provides the Knicks with building blocks that can be utilized to create the foundation for a return to prominence.
Thus, while pessimism may be easier to come by after another season on the outside looking in of the NBA Playoffs, there are individuals who deserve our praise.
As the NBA debates who should win MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and the other major post-season awards, it’s only right to do the same with the Knicks. A number of players established themselves as high-quality short-term and long-term contributors during the 2017-18 campaign.
The question is: Who would the major award winners be if the New York Knicks were the only franchise worth discussing?
Sixth Man of the Year: Kyle O’Quinn
There are a number of players who deserve consideration here, but Kyle O’Quinn has been the epitome of consistency. No matter the opponent, O’Quinn has provided consistent and reliable contributions on both ends of the floor.
Michael Beasley may have provided more aesthetically appealing statistics, but O’Quinn is once again the Knicks’ Sixth Man of the Year.
O’Quinn appeared in 77 games, recording averages of 7.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.6 offensive boards, 2.1 assists, and 1.3 blocks in 18.0 minutes per game. Those marks translate to per 36 averages of 14.3 points, 12.2 rebounds, 3.1 offensive rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.5 blocks.
Coupled with his efficient shooting of 58.3 percent from the field and 77.2 percent from the charity stripe, O’Quinn’s statistics are more than adequate.
Beyond the individual numbers, O’Quinn made a consistently positive impact on the Knicks. The team was 4.3 points per 100 possessions better when he was on the floor than when he wasn’t. Furthermore, O’Quinn ranked in the top 20 amongst centers in Real Plus-Minus.
Beasley and a somewhat briefly tenured Trey Burke are quality options here, but O’Quinn was the epitome of consistency on both ends of the floor.
Rookie of the Year: Frank Ntilikina
With all due respect to Damyean Dotson, Isaiah Hicks, and Luke Kornet, this selection is rather obvious. Frank Ntilikina may not have recorded the most ideal of statistics, but he’s pieced together what should be viewed as a quality rookie season.
A two-way player who doesn’t take possessions off, Ntilikina represents a return to the defensive-minded formula that brought the New York Knicks to past glory.
Ntilikina may not have posted the most gaudy of statistics, but he had stronger numbers than one might first assume. He joined Mark Jackson, Rod Strickland, and Greg Anthony as the only Knicks to record at least 250 assists and 50 steals as rookies over the past 30 years.
Ntilikina also became the first rookie in franchise history to record at least 250 assists and 50 three-point field goals—certainly a feather in his cap.
Beyond the numbers, Ntilikina displayed the versatility and instincts of a legitimately elite on-ball defender. Whether he was defending every position from 1 to 4 or providing exquisite help defense, The French Prince proved he thinks the game at an advanced level.
Described by LeBron James as cerebral, Gregg Popovich as fearless, and both Kyrie Irving and Tony Parker as a great defender, Ntilikina is New York’s 2017-18 Rookie of the Year.
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.
Comeback Player of the Year: Trey Burke
Due to the fact that Trey Burke didn’t play a large enough number of games to win Sixth Man of the Year or Most Improved Player, we created an award for him. Burke was the Comeback Player of the Year as the individual whom few, if any, expected to shine.
With a comeback story that ranks amongst the best developments of the 2017-18 season, Burke simply deserves to be honored and respected.
Had Burke appeared in more than 36 games, he’d likely be the Most Improved Player for the Knicks and a viable candidate for the NBA. He worked his way up through the G League and proved that he was ready for the main stage when he transitioned from Westchester to The Mecca.
Over the course of his 36 appearances, Burke averaged 12.8 points, 4.7 assists, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.1 three-point field goals made in just 21.8 minutes per game.
Burke set new career highs in points, assists, rebounds, and steals per 36 minutes during the 2017-18 regular season. He did so while posting an efficient slash line of .503/.362/.649 and committing a mere 2.0 turnovers per 36.
From a top-10 draft pick to being unable to sign with any of the 30 NBA teams, Burke has made significant progress towards a true comeback.
Defensive Player of the Year: Kristaps Porzingis
Frank Ntilikina certainly has a stake to the claim, but the Defensive Player of the Year is clearly Kristaps Porzingis. Despite appearing in just 48 games, Porzingis did more than enough to prove that he’s already a legitimate candidate for the NBA’s award.
An elite shot-blocker and the best rim protector in the NBA from a statistical perspective, the 22-year-old is already a force to be reckoned with.
Porzingis finished his third NBA season with a league-best average of 2.4 blocks per game. That alone gives him an early advantage in the Knicks’ team-specific race for Defensive Player of the Year, but it’s only a fraction of what validates his status.
Porzingis held opponents to 49.2 percent shooting at the rim—the No. 1 mark in the NBA by a massive margin of 3.2 percent.
Furthermore, the Knicks recorded a Defensive Rating of 105.4 with Porzingis on the floor. That may not be a captivating number, but it’s made even more impressive by the fact that New York accumulated a Defensive Rating of 110.3 without Porzingis—4.9 points per 100 possessions worse.
If not for the injury, Porzingis would have had a case for both an All-Defensive Team selection and overall Defensive Player of the Year honors.
MVP: Kristaps Porzingis
The New York Knicks received quality contributions from multiple players during the 2017-18 regular season. The MVP of the team, however, was the player who made his first career All-Star Game appearance during just his third NBA campaign.
A knee injury unfortunately derailed his season, but Porzingis was the unrivaled best and most valuable player on the Knicks in 2017-18.
Statistically, Porzingis led the Knicks in points, blocks, field goals made, field goal attempts, free throws made, and free throw attempts per game. He also ranked No. 1 on the team and No. 7 in the NBA in usage rate with a mark of 31.1 percent.
No one shouldered a bigger workload for the Knicks on offense, nor defense, than the 7’3″ phenom who’s rapidly trending towards superstar status.
Further proof can be found in the fact that the Knicks accumulated net ratings of +0.1 with Porzingis on the court and -7.0 when he wasn’t. For those in search of a more traditional breakdown: New York was 22-26 when Porzingis played and 7-27 when he didn’t.
In other words: The Knicks lost more games in 34 outings without Porzingis than they did in 48 showings with him in the lineup.
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A 29-53 record may provide reason for pessimism, but the New York Knicks received strong seasons from a number of players in 2017-18.
They’ve firmly established that the future is bright at The Mecca.