3. Noah Vonleh
On an unguaranteed contract, Noah Vonleh had to fight his way onto the New York Knicks. His spot was locked up when Joakim Noah, Jeff Coby and Kadeem Allen were waived, but it didn’t stop another standout performance.
Off the bench, in just 16 minutes, Vonleh had 12 points and 10 rebounds on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting. Like Kanter, he worked Atlanta’s frontcourt and found success throughout the game.
The preseason showcased the Indiana product’s energy and toughness under the hoop. Sometimes, it led to erratic play and turnovers, but that was hardly the case here, with a noticeable effort that will continue to provide playing time.
Down the line, if Vonleh keeps this up, he can earn a spot start if Kanter or Thomas need a night off. It’s a small sample size, but the ability to push the ball into the paint and bully low-post defenders has stat consistent and something for the Knicks to embrace.
Robinson’s injury departure also provided Vonleh with minutes, so once he’s healthy, it will be interesting to see how this changes. Plus, New York’s second-round rookie will inevitably hit the G League, opening minutes for the other backups. That could only be a matter of time if the organization feels he needs to bulk up in Westchester.