New York Knicks: Kevin Knox received advice from LeBron James

New York Knicks forward Kevin Knox has struggled throughout the 2019-20 season. In dire times, he received advice from an icon: LeBron James.

The New York Knicks selected Kevin Knox with the ninth overall selection in the 2018 NBA Draft. It was a difficult decision to make, as the alternatives included Michael Porter Jr. and his extensive injury history, and players at a position the Knicks had already drafted for a year prior.

Unfortunately for Knox, his sophomore slump happens to have come in a city that has limited experience with developing younger players.

The Knicks were without first-round draft picks in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016—a clear enough sign that player development hasn’t been a priority. As such, Knox going through a brutal second season is almost uncharted territory for a franchise that has minimal experience in this situation.

Thankfully, Knox seems to have found an ally during these trying times: LeBron James.

In a Q&A session on Twitter for the Association’s NBA Together program, Knox opened up about how the four-time NBA MVP offered him advice that continues to resonate with him today.

For those who can’t access the video, Knox said the following:

"“One of the biggest things that he said was really just staying locked in throughout the whole season. There’s going to be ups and downs. Social media is going to try and bring you down. There’s going to be times when they’re going to hype you up. But he was just telling me to stay level-headed because there are times when he doesn’t have great games. He was telling me that he’s not really worried about what people are saying. He’s just getting back into the lab, back into the gym, putting more work in.”"

It’s been a tough season for Knox, but receiving advice from a surefire Hall of Famer is about as ideal a way as any to get back on the right track.

Forgive the cliche, but patience can be a virtue for those who are willing to put the work in to accommodate it. In the curious case of Kevin Knox, he’s seen a drastic decline in production and efficiency across the board from his rookie season to 2019-20.

That even includes a dip in free throw percentage from .717 to .653, as well as a decrease in playing time from 28.8 minutes per game to 17.9.

That drop in playing time could be justified, but it’s also a primary source of Knox’s poor play in 2019-20—and the numbers support that statement.

In the 23 games in which Knox has played at least 20 minutes, he’s shooting 39.8 percent from the field and 35.0 percent from beyond the arc. During the 43 games that he’s failed to play 20-plus minutes, those figures drop to 32.2 and 30.3 percent, respectively.

There are certainly other factors to consider, but a lack of opportunity has resulted in a decrease in both confidence and efficiency.

With the mentality that LeBron James helped him develop, Kevin Knox may just overcome this difficult season with the New York Knicks.