What is the ceiling for New York Knicks forward Kevin Knox? Here are three NBA player comparisons to gauge his value in 2021 and beyond.
As the New York Knicks continue to stockpile young assets, the franchise seems to be building a core around RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, and Obi Toppin. While this is a far cry for the Knicks’ talent base during their heyday, it does provide the team with direction for the future.
However, it appears as though one former lottery pick may be getting lost in the shuffle: forward Kevin Knox. The former Kentucky wing enters his sophomore season as a bit of an afterthought despite facing an unusual number of hurdles during his young career.
Knox hit the NBA stage as a raw 18-year-old. He also had the extra burden of playing in the biggest basketball market in the country. After a solid rookie campaign, averaging 12.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest, he experienced a concerning drop-off during his second season. However, this seems like a passable offense, considering the fact that he was also forced to play through a global pandemic during the strangest NBA season we have ever experienced.
Is there hope that the now 21-year-old wing can reestablish himself as a part of the team’s future?
Here are three player comps that he has a realistic chance of becoming.
Tier #1: Tobias Harris
This was the most popular comp to Kevin Knox coming out of college. Both he and Harris share a very similar body type (Knox is 6’8”, 215 lbs and Harris is 6’8″, 226 lbs). The two also have striking similarities in their games.
Now a nine-year veteran, Harris has established himself as a borderline All-Star talent with consistent outside shooting ability. However, he, like Knox, did not enter the league with this skillset. In fact, it wasn’t until near the mid-point in his career that he developed an outside shot that became a legitimate threat.
Harris shot a respectable 34 percent from three over his first two seasons. He also took four per contest, while hitting 1.7.
If Knox, like many modern NBA players before him, is able to develop a consistent stroke during his career, he could become the ideal modern power forward. If he could stretch the defense to create space for his teammates, he could prove to be a very valuable piece.
Tier #2: Otto Porter Jr.
If Kevin Knox is unable to reach the fringe All-Star level of Harris, a player comp to the Chicago Bulls forward would be the next realistic level. While most tend to think of Porter Jr. for his massive four-year, $106 million contract, he is actually a skilled player on the court.
Knox was originally compared to Porter during the scouting process before the 2018 NBA Draft. While Knox would be hard pressed to duplicate the three seasons in which the Bulls sharpshooter shot a blistering 40+ percent from three-point range, he could develop a similar style of play.
Both are around the same height, and both players possess the ability to shoot over smaller defenders. Each forward also has the size and length to make an impact on the defensive end.
In the modern NBA, where “3-and-D” players are an increasingly valuable commodity, Knox could carve out an important role as a stretch four.
Tier #3: Taurean Prince
Barring a terrible injury, the level of a player Taurean Prince represents is the lowest floor for Kevin Knox. While the veteran wing has developed a valuable reputation during his time with the Hawks and Nets, Prince’s quality of play would cause the former eighth overall pick to be universally labeled as a bust.
Essentially, this comp would mean that Knox’s career plateau would be his rookie statistics. He would never crack 15 points per game. He would also never make a tangible difference in his rebounding or passing numbers. His entire NBA existence would be predicated on his ability to cover opposing shooters and hit open threes.
While this would give him a path toward a multi-year professional career, it would be a major disappointment for the New York fanbase.
Conclusion
I still believe Knox has a legitimate chance to become a Harris-typed talent. While I do not anticipate that he will develop into the All-Star that the Knicks were hoping for when they added him to their franchise, he could still become a considerable asset. Perhaps a player like Kelly Oubre Jr. is another realistic comparison for Knox’s ceiling.
However, in order for Knox to achieve his career aspirations, he must develop at least one discernible skill. Ideally, this would be a consistent outside jumper. However, even if he was able to add solid ball-handling and passing to his game, he could become an Andre Iguodala-type point forward.
Here’s hoping that Knox has spent the majority of the expanded Knicks’ offseason in the gym preparing for a revamped 2021.