NY Knicks: 3 players who could lead team in assists this season

Will Derrick Rose lead the NY Knicks in assists this season from the bench?

Derrick Rose leading the team in assist has a lot to do with what was said in the previous slide about Kemba Walker.

Rose averaged just under 27 minutes per game while with the Knicks last year and if everyone stays healthy, that number is subject to either staying the same or dropping.

Fewer minutes of course means fewer opportunities to put up stats.

In those 27 minutes per game, Rose averaged 4.2 assists per game but a lot has changed since last season.

Firstly, as of now, there’s no guarantee that Rose will be stuck permanently behind anyone (i.e. Elfrid Payton) so therefore, Rose may get more opportunities to start if and when Thibs rests Kemba Walker on back to backs.

Second, I have a funny feeling that Coach Thibs is going to want the guys he trusts with the best track records on the floor to close out tight games.

That means as I mentioned in the previous slide, that to start the season…I believe both Kemba and Rose will be on the floor at the same time in the final minutes of 4th quarters.

And unlike Kemba, Rose doesn’t have to compete as much for touches when bringing the ball up the court.

Kemba is going to lose possessions to Julius Randle, Evan Fournier, and occasionally RJ Barrett.
As of now, until Immanuel Quickley develops more as a playmaker, the only guy on the team’s second-unit that should bring the ball up instead of Rose would be Alec Burks…who was going to be 4th on this list had I made another slide.

Another year’s worth of chemistry and development out of Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley should mean an even more lethal bench unit for the Knicks.

It’s clear the team put an emphasis on continuity this offseason because the Knicks have the same exact bench as they had last year and even in their first season altogether, they looked special.

It’s only going to get better this time around and that means more opportunities for D-Rose to shine.