Daily Knicks
Fansided

New York Knicks: Can NYK follow in Lakers’ footsteps at Summer League?

By Daniel Lubofsky

KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 6: Kentucky Wildcats forward Kevin Knox (5) takes a three point shot during a game between the Kentucky Wildcats and Tennessee Volunteers on January 6, 2018, at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Tennessee defeated the Wildcats 76-65. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 6: Kentucky Wildcats forward Kevin Knox (5) takes a three point shot during a game between the Kentucky Wildcats and Tennessee Volunteers on January 6, 2018, at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Tennessee defeated the Wildcats 76-65. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The New York Knicks will open Summer League on Saturday. The youngsters have a chance to put the league on notice with their play.

The NBA’s Summer League has become quite the spectacle over the past few seasons, with fans packing the arenas to get a first impression of the incoming rookie class. Not only is it a chance for fans to see their teams’ newly minted draft picks, but it’s an opportunity for players to show off their talents to anyone watching.

For the New York Knicks and their fanbase, the 2018 Summer League is one full of intriguing storylines in regards to the guys on their roster.

After a so-so rookie season, second-year guard Frank Ntilikina will look to show off all the work he’s been putting in since mid-April, hoping to prove his worth to the doubters and naysayers.

Kevin Knox, the ninth pick in the 2018 Draft, should hope to emulate new teammate Kristaps Porzingis‘ Summer League play by showing the fans who booed him on draft night why he can become a great player.

Mitchell Robinson is a potential second-round steal with his incredible athletic gifts, and he could prove such over the next couple of weeks.

Throw in Damyean Dotson and Troy Williams, who both received playing time this past season, and the Knicks have quite a few young players who could help the team moving forward, with Summer League being the perfect place to show it.

When looking at the Knicks from a big-picture perspective, they appear to have something special brewing, with some interesting pieces and potential cap space in the near future.

We all know about Kristaps Porzingis and his recovery from a torn ACL suffered in February, but plenty of New York’s future could very well be on this Summer League roster.

That core of Ntilikina, Knox, Robinson, Williams, and Dotson have all shown flashes at one point or another, but they haven’t been able to put it all together just yet.

Summer League, though, provides an opportunity to show what you’re capable of as a basketball player, and should these youngsters play well, it would come at the perfect time for a Knicks squad in the early phases of their rebuild.

Remember, it was only last summer that Lonzo Ball won Summer League MVP and his teammate Kyle Kuzma won the MVP of the championship game, announcing to the NBA world that the Los Angeles Lakers were a team on the come up.

If the Knicks’ top talent can show out and even win the Summer League championship, it will speak volumes to what Scott Perry and Steve Mills have built so far.

Must Read: Summer League players who are under contract

More importantly: It should put the rest of the league on notice that the New York Knicks are a team to look forward to in the not so distant future.

Home/Knicks News