New York Knicks: Despite minimal playing time, veterans set example

The New York Knicks have limited veterans in favor of youth, but that never removed the impact of these players.

As the season continues, and the New York Knicks lose more games, they have presented a youth-focused rotation. This put most of their veterans on the outside looking in, including Enes Kanter’s diminished role which created a public outcry.

Courtney Lee became one of the veterans to take a backseat. His salary for 2019-20 made him a trade candidate, as the Knicks prepare for July’s free agency. However, a two-month neck injury set the 33-year-old back, and young players stepped up to assume prominent roles.

Head coach David Fizdale kept Lee on the bench for most of the past few weeks, but it did not demoralize the long-time shooting guard, accepting his role on this rebuilding bunch, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News:

"“Being in this league for a while you understand that’s the best direction to go in, especially having a young core. And then just to look at the record it’s not what anybody wanted it to be right now, so one thing you can do to take a positive out of that is just developing the young guys,” Lee said. “If you put yourself first, it’s very difficult. But I understand it’s for the betterment of the team. And it also shows my character. Understanding what they’re trying to do and putting the team first and then just realizing that you got to just be patient and stay ready and something will happen – whether it’s here or somewhere else.”"

Trey Burke was another player to sit at the end of the bench, before Frank Ntilikina suffered a strained left ankle against the Los Angeles Lakers. Playing 18 minutes, the sixth-year point guard had 16 points to contribute towards a 119-112 win.

Like Lee, in a piece from Marc Berman of the New York Post, Burke has embraced his diminished role, leading players in practice and receiving Fizdale’s appreciation:

"“Trey Burke going to the gym first and taking guys with him and not worrying about when he’s going to play again, it’s the character of our team,’’ Fizdale said."

It’s at least a positive that some of the veterans have not lashed back at a smaller role than used to, especially Lee, who was a starter on the previous two Knicks teams.

Burke took a reserve role in 2017-18, but he opened 2018-19 as the starting point guard and watched his role shrink after just five games. Plus, Fizdale did not play him in two different stints.

One of the others, Mario Hezonja, returned to the rotation after sitting four of the previous five games. He had 10 points in 13 minutes, all of which came at the end of the third quarter and into the fourth.

Fizdale has kept these players ready, and, in this developmental season that prioritizes Kevin Knox, Allonzo Trier, Luke Kornet, Mitchell Robinson and others, it’s all this coaching staff can ask for.

The next potential test for these veterans will arise on Monday, Jan. 7, when the New York Knicks travel to Portland, OR, to play the Trail Blazers.