New York Knicks: What if each player was a chess piece?

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BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 1: Frank Ntilikina #11 and R.J. Barrett #9 of the New York Knicks during the game against the Boston Celtics in the second half at TD Garden on November 1, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images) /

Chess is a complex game that takes planning and strategy; let’s take a look at which pieces the New York Knicks players would be.

What’s going on everyone hope you’re having a good Friday! Today I wanted to do something fun instead of just recycle Knicks stories that aren’t new or talk about Chris Paul. I’m going to compare the current New York Knicks roster to the pieces in chess. I think it’d be fun to look at the different types of players and assess their values appropriately. This article is just for entertainment and I thought it would be an easy read while you count down those minutes until 5 o’clock.

Chess is a complex game that takes planning and strategy. Unlike checkers, there is much more forward thinking involved in chess to be successful, just like in running a successful NBA team.

For all the uncultured (I’m kidding relax) readers out there, let’s break down the basics of chess. There are 6 different pieces and each piece carries a different value (much like players in the league). Each piece can do a different movement but is restricted in what they can do. If your piece can get the king on the next turn, it’s called check. The goal is the make the king go into check and not be able to get out in the next move. Then you win. Got it? Cool.

The pieces and values (I know you care) are:

Pawn (1)

Knight (3)

Bishop (3)

Rook (5)

Queen (10)

King (Game over)

The current players on the Knicks, as of this current moment, and their positions (and salaries) are:

Julius Randle (Pf) $18m

Bobby Portis (Pf) $15m

Maurice Harkless (Sf) $11m

Taj Gibson (Pf/C) $9.8m

Elfrid Payton (Pg) $8m

RJ Barrett (Sg/Sf) $7.8m

Wayne Ellington (Sg) $7.8m

Frank Ntilikina (Pg) $4.8m (check out this super cool article about him)

Dennis Smith Jr. (Pg) $4.4m (no for real check out this super cool article about him)

Kevin Knox (Sf/Pf) $4.3m

Reggie Bullock (Sg) $4m

Damyean Dotson (Sg/Sf) $1.6m (Pleasseeeeeee don’t go)

Mitchell Rob(lob?)inson (C) $1.5m

Theo Piston (Pg I think? Where’s Trier at) $1.4m

Ignas Brazdeikis (Sg/Sf) $800k

Jared Harper (Pg)

Kenny Wooton (C) (Hey man can you reply to my dm I’m trying write an interview article about you)

Now that we have the basics down, let’s discuss which chess pieces each player represents.

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