NY Knicks: 3 X-factors that will help team reach full potential

NY Knicks X-Factor No. 3) Kemba Walker

Even if he wasn’t the featured image for this piece, it’s hard for us to believe that you wouldn’t have guessed that Kemba Walker would be listed as one of the X-factors for this NY Knicks squad.

Yes, upon his signing with the franchise this offseason, the media as well as the fanbase did a great job of highlighting why this move was so good for the team to have made. However, over the past few weeks, we feel as though this buzz may have died down just a bit.

Today, we bring back to the forefront why Kemba in New York could prove to be an unbelievable signing.

Frankly, we’re talking about a 4x All-Star and former All-NBA selection who just put up per-game averages of 19.9 points and 5.4 assists on 36 percent shooting from deep last year, and this was widely considered to be a down season for the point guard.

Now yes, obviously watching his performances on the hardwood last year told more of the story than his counting stats about why 2020-21 was a year to forget for the 31-year-old, but when he was actually clicking, so too were the Celtics.

Now yes, there are obviously risks that come with a player who has a knee ailment that could impact him for the remainder of his career. Though perhaps the old NY Knicks regimes may have dropped some serious dough to bring a talent of Walker’s ilk to town, this new era seemingly played things rather safe, signing the veteran to a mere two-year, $8.9 million deal.

Obviously, there are risks with Walker, but the upside (especially at this price range) he brings makes it all worth it, for he has already proven capable of excelling alongside a rising star and a budding superstar during his time in Boston, and will be tasked with coexisting in a similar situation with the likes of RJ Barrett and Julius Randle, respectively.

Back in his native city of New York, the 11th-year veteran is now finding himself playing for more than just a team — he’s playing for his hometown.

Should he stay healthy, Kemba Walker may once again be able to tap back into his All-NBA self, which would be an absolute blessing for a team who, despite finding ample success last season, oft found themselves void of any legitimate option at the one, i.e. the most important position in basketball.