The New York Knicks have three former top-10 draft picks at point guard. Former coach Larry Brown believes the rotation can push Emmanuel Mudiay to his limits.
The New York Knicks have a rotation of point guards that can be accurately described as unique. After years of struggling to compile an ideal measure of talent at the position, the Knicks are now moving forward with no shortage of it.
No individual has truly separated themselves from the pack, but with three former top-10 draft picks at point guard, the Knicks have upside to explore.
The point guards who are currently on the roster are Trey Burke, Emmanuel Mudiay, and Frank Ntilikina. All three were selected in the top 10 of their respective NBA Drafts, but none have truly distinguished themselves as starting-caliber players.
According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, Hall of Fame head coach Larry Brown believes that the competition can bring the best out of Mudiay.
"“I just think if you can get him for a second-round pick and bring him to New York, surround him with people like Scott, who isn’t afraid to tell him what he needs to do, I think he’s got a great opportunity with Frank and the way Trey has improved,’’ Brown said. “Those are three darn good guards. They have an unbelievable upside. It’s all about Emmanuel being in great shape because he has a great feel for the game. When I watched him in high school, I thought if he came to SMU we had a chance to win a national championship.’’"
Of all the point guards who are currently on the Knicks’ roster, one wouldn’t have much trouble arguing that Mudiay has the highest ceiling.
While Ntilikina has the longer wingspan, Mudiay is one of the more explosive athletes at the point guard position. That’s an intriguing truth when one considers that he’s 6’5″ and still has to solidify his 200-pound frame with lean muscle.
The issues early in Mudiay’s career, however, have included his lackluster jump shot and, in Brown’s words, his need to get in better shape.
Conditioning is crucial for every player in the NBA, but it’s an especially critical aspect of a point guard’s development due to their widespread responsibilities.
Burke and Ntilikina managed to stand out in 2017-18, but the point guard competition is far from over. It’s within the realm of possibility that Mudiay and Ntilikina will share the backcourt as 6’5″ guards with long wingspans and two-way versatility.
Coupled with Burke’s ability to provide instant offense as both a scorer and a facilitator, the Knicks have a chance to build something special.
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The question is: Which point guard will create separation in the race for the starting role with the New York Knicks?