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New York Knicks: How players picked after Kristaps Porzingis have fared

By Rob Wolkenbrod

TARRYTOWN, NY - JUNE 26: Kristaps Porzingis, first round Draft pick of the New York Knicks speaks to the media at the Madison Square Garden Training Facility on June 26, 2015 in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images)
TARRYTOWN, NY - JUNE 26: Kristaps Porzingis, first round Draft pick of the New York Knicks speaks to the media at the Madison Square Garden Training Facility on June 26, 2015 in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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New York Knicks Emmanuel Mudiay (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
New York Knicks Emmanuel Mudiay (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /

. PG. Rep. of Congo. Emmanuel Mudiay. 7. player. 73

Slash Line: .395/.322/.741
Career Averages: 11.7 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 4.1 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 1.0 3PM

The third and final member of 2015’s top 10 to eventually join the New York Knicks, Emmanuel Mudiay went to the Denver Nuggets as the seventh overall pick. Controversial for his path to the draft, Mudiay chose China over college and spent the 2014-15 season there.

While the Republic of Congo native still landed among the top selections, the results and added experience overseas did not follow.

Two-plus difficult seasons in Denver saw Mudiay struggle shooting the basketball and lose his starting role. Jamal Murray and Gary Harris emerged in the backcourt, which limited minutes for others and led to the 2018 deadline-day trade, with Mudiay to the Knicks to reinvigorate his career.

The results have been mixed but improved for Mudiay in the blue and orange. His defensive acumen remains poor, and he’s one of just two players from the 2015 class to have a negative win share (-1.1), but at 14.7 points on 45.5 percent shooting in 2018-19, it became by far the 23-year-old’s best season, even with a few games left.

The Knicks have Dennis Smith Jr. and Frank Ntilikina around and a potential top pick that can become Ja Morant, so restricted free agency may take Mudiay in another direction, but this season should extend his career moving forward.

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