4 Former New York Knicks That Would Thrive In Today’s NBA

NY Knicks Player #4: John Starks

Besides the obvious desire for star players, probably the most coveted archetype in the league today is “3 and D.”

As another player who had star-level talent that didn’t always translate, John Starks made his mark through relentless hustle on both offense and defense. He was a 1x All-star, the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 1997, and he was All-Defense in 1993.

Like Allan Houston, Starks was a high-volume three-point shooter. However, he wasn’t as efficient. In eight seasons in New York, he shot 34.5% on 4.7 attempts. Those were acceptable numbers for the time, but that would not fly today.

Starks was very much a microwave type of player. While he wasn’t always a great shooter, it would still be nice to see him in a modern offense. Starks could benefit from getting open looks frequently.

Additionally, training staff and player development are so advanced nowadays that Starks would have several outlets toward improving his shot efficiency.

And then there is the defense. Starks’ battles with Michael Jordan are legendary. He put up admirable effort despite what seemed like an impossible task. Speaking of Jordan, The Dunk was the highlight of Starks’ career. It was the ultimate display of Starks explosiveness, an added bonus to his skill set.

There is no doubt in my mind that Starks would be successful in replicating what he did in the ’90s. He would once again be an elite role player.