Ranking Knicks free agents who are most deserving of a new contract

NY Knicks: #2 Alec Burks (Unrestricted Free Agent)

Nerlens Noel may have been the Knicks savior on defense, but on many nights Alec Burks played the role of savior on offense.

In 25.6 minutes per game off the bench and in 5 games as a starter, Burks averaged 12.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game on 42/41.5/85.6 shooting splits. Those numbers he put up in the rebounding and assist department were underrated, even by many NY Knicks fans. While he certainly poured it in with his scoring, Burks was a great all-around player for New York.

Now, let’s observe how masterful he was at times when scoring. You don’t have to do much rounding to proclaim that Burks averaged 13 PPG. I highlight this because, in his 49 games, Burks scored 20 or more points 11 times and scored his average of 13 or more 25 times.

He recorded his first career 30 point game as a Knick during a crucial win vs the San Antonio Spurs in the team’s 3rd to last game of the year. Additionally, during a stretch in mid-March, NY went 4-2 as Burks had 5 straight games with 20+ points and 19 points in the first of those 6 games. Lastly, Burks exploded for 27 points in Game 1 of the playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks, a game that he nearly won for them, as NY went on to lose by just 2 points.

Wow.

For a team that was one of the worst in PPG and overall scoring, New York wasn’t completely devoid of great scoring talent. Burks in many games played during the fourth quarter and hit several clutch shots that got the Knicks a win. Just is the case with many of his teammates, it is a mystery where this team would have been at the end of 20-21 without Burks. They will be hard-pressed to find a better player to provide the same role Burks did, so the NY may not be able to metaphorically afford to replace him. Bring him back ASAP.