New York Knicks: Five reasons to love the Kevin Knox pick
3. Defensive Upside
The New York Knicks needed nothing more than a prospect who has the ability to consistently defend at a high level. As teams move towards more of a positionless style, that made one word ring louder than any other on the defensive end of the floor: Versatility.
Kevin Knox will need to prove his toughness on defense, but he has the physical gifts—and a solid amount of film—to suggest he’ll be a versatile defender.
As previously discussed, Knox has elite physical measurements for a 3 and prototypical marks for a 4. He also has the potential to be able to rotate onto centers once his body fills out, as well as the agility to hold his own against guards on switches against the pick and roll.
The term 1-to-5 is severely over-utilized in the NBA, but Knox has the versatility to switch and defend without much concern about which position he’s matching up with.
As far as his playmaking is concerned, Knox can impose his will on the passing lanes when he’s dialed in. His toughness and focus have been questioned, but David Fizdale seems to believe he can find the spark within the former Kentucky star.
If Knox remains focused and energized in the NBA, he and Frank Ntilikina could enable Kristaps Porzingis to focus more on protecting the rim, thus truly anchoring the defense.