New York Knicks: Mario Hezonja remains happy despite limited minutes

Mario Hezonja never found a steady role and struggled with the New York Knicks in the season’s first half, but he remains happy with the organization.

Mario Hezonja was among the former lottery picks to join the New York Knicks in 2018-19, but on a one-year, $6.5 million contract last offseason. It was a “prove-it” deal after three underwhelming years with the Orlando Magic.

This season with the Knicks did not provide positive results for Hezonja in the first half, however. He shot just 40.3 percent with a 29.2 percent from on three-pointers for 7.6 points. Roles have varied in this time.

Despite this, and the realization of potentially no long-term future in New York, the 23-year-old remains happy, per Marc Berman of the New York Post:

"“I love this team. I love everybody over here, man,” Hezonja said. “I’m focusing only on here. And this is not typical B.S. stuff, like, ‘I’m only thinking about this, I don’t know what’s going to be in the future.’ I know. But this is it. I love this. I want to be in New York, that’s it.”"

Hezonja was part of the group that lost playing time for the Knicks’ past draft picks. He started 11 consecutive games from Nov. 20 to Dec. 9, but lost this job to Kevin Knox, and watched his role slip by the game, resulting in four games of not playing via coach’s decision and another with garbage minutes.

Like other Knicks, Hezonja played reinvigorated upon the next opportunity. He had 10 points in 13 minutes against the Lakers, followed with 14 points and seven rebounds at Portland and scored 19 on 7-for-12 shooting versus the Warriors.

For now, it created a role for the Croatian forward, although it’s as Frank Ntilikina and Mitchell Robinson remain out with injuries.

Hezonja’s positive mindset throughout this contrasts Enes Kanter‘s, who also lost his starting role, but maintained a spot in the rotation. Whether attributed to this or not, New York placed the veteran center in trade talks.

In a separate article, Berman reported, the Knicks seek second-round picks for players that have undetermined futures with the organization past this season. If Hezonja is one of those players, this recent playing-time spurt could be a showcase ahead of the Feb. 7 trade deadline.

With about half the roster set for free agency, more than just Hezonja has a questionable future. That may set up an interesting next four weeks, as the Knicks are potentially active.