Noah Vonleh: Stock Up
Slash Line since March 1: .568/.333/.722
Averages since March 1: 11.4 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 2.2 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 0.4 3PM
Noah Vonleh was the New York Knicks’ most consistent player for the first half of the season, until a lengthy mid-season spell hurt his playing time and even resulted in a lost starting spot for four of a five-game stretch in February.
Since March 1, however, Vonleh seems back on track.
The three-point numbers are not extraordinary, as he hit more earlier this season at a higher clip, but he made just three in February. Through five March games, he has three.
Otherwise, the fifth-year man has 11.4 points per game on a steady eight rebounds. That attributes to a 17-point, 12-rebound performance on March 2 and a 13-rebound night against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Plus, Vonleh has his starting spot back, even with DeAndre Jordan in place at center. They are not the ideal frontcourt combination in the modern-day NBA of outside shooting, but both hold their own as a steady duo to play significant minutes.
Vonleh is an unrestricted free agent at season’s end. As Sam Vecenie of The Athletic noted, it’s possible the front office retained him at the deadline, despite a minimum salary, out of goodwill, with interest in re-signing him this summer. Maybe that’s the case, but after showcasing himself as a capable rotation big, the Indiana product could be difficult to retain.