At Monday’s media day, New York Knicks rookie Kevin Knox praised the team’s chemistry that developed through the 2018 offseason.
The New York Knicks underwent changes in the 2018 offseason that continued the emphasis on young talent. With two draft picks and the acquisitions of Mario Hezonja and Noah Vonleh, these pieces will work towards the organization’s future.
With one of the selections, the Knicks took Kevin Knox, a forward from Kentucky, at No. 9 overall. He will look to contribute towards the team’s potential success in the 2018-19 season.
Of course, it’s all new faces for Knox to work with, but he’s excited and impressed with everything he’s seen in the offseason. At Monday’s media day, he praised it as one of the best summers of any NBA team:
"“I just feel like we had one of the best summers out of any NBA team for this upcoming season. The work we put in this summer, we got everyone in great shape. The energy we have in the locker room and on the court is fun to be around. I feel like we have a bond, a chemistry, that’s going to help us on the court.We’ve been together all summer—like 14 guys—being in the gym, playing pickup ball every day. I just feel like the energy we have right now is gonna go on towards the season, and we’re going to have a great year together.”"
Knox also spoke on head coach David Fizdale’s desire for positionless basketball and his excitement to play with Kristaps Porzingis.
It’s high praise for the team before they play a meaningful game together, but Knox seemed confident in their group for the 2018-19 campaign and the work they put in this summer.
Everyone will have confidence before the season starts, with new faces and expectations for what’s to come. So it does not make Knox’s comments out of the ordinary, and the excitement expressed by other Knicks at media day went along with this.
Knox will be one of New York’s most intriguing players to follow in 2018-19, as he looks to follow up on high expectations as a top 10 pick. Without Porzingis and questions on who carries the scoring load, it’s an opportunity to step up immediately, impress the coaching staff and develop as a 19 year old.
Step one was the summer league, where Knox earned first team honors for his 20-plus points per game. He took on a main scoring role then, so will that translate to the regular season in October and beyond?
With the 2018-19 NBA Rookie of the Year award a possibility, too, Knox has potential goals to follow up on and provide hope for a New York Knicks squad that’s in a rebuilding phase. How will everything result in a group he’s excited to be part of?