The latest look at the New York Knicks’ G-League team follows their play at the Las Vegas showcase.
The NBA G League has been busy this weekend, with its official showcase taking place in Las Vegas, NV. It’s an opportunity for these under-the-radar players to shine on national television, and the New York Knicks’ Westchester squad was one of the teams to play.
How did Westchester play with the bright lights on? Let’s take a look at the latest G League roundup.
Vegas showcase
To place a larger microscope on the NBA’s developmental league, one of the G-League showcases was held on Friday, Dec. 20. ESPNU broadcasted Westchester’s matchup with the Charlotte Hornets’ Greensboro Swarm, winning by 29 points.
Five players finished in double figures for Westchester, including Lamar Peters‘ 23 points off the bench. Second-round pick, Ignas Brazdeikis had 19 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Perhaps the biggest performance of them all, Ivan Rabb, one of New York’s two-way players, had 18 points and 15 rebounds. He added two 3-pointers to contribute in this lopsided victory.
Potential NBA prospects stood out on this stage, making it a positive night for the Knicks’ minor league team. Players like Brazdeikis and Rabb could find NBA roles later this year, while Peters could earn an opportunity with the main roster if he continues to play well.
Prospects worth watching for NBA opportunities
- Ignas Brazdeikis: The Michigan product should have an NBA role by season’s end, especially if the Knicks are sellers at the trade deadline. There’s little reason to not give this rookie a chance if the Knicks are nowhere near the playoff picture.
- Ivan Rabb: The Knicks haven’t needed to supplement their frontcourt depth, as they loaded up on it in free agency. If multiple players go down, which has not been the case yet, Rabb will get his chance down the road.
- Kenny Wooten: For defensive presence alone, Wooten will find a spot on someone’s bench as a reserve.
- Lamar Peters: Peters is scoring his way to an NBA tryout, whether with the Knicks or somewhere else. He’s just 21 years old and averages 16.7 points and 5.7 assists per game on 43.7 percent shooting and 43.9 percent on 3-pointers, although averaging 3.7 turnovers is high.
A brighter future is ahead for some of the Westchester Knicks, which could mean joining the New York Knicks down the road, much like John Jenkins and Billy Garrett last season. Will anyone make the jump?