Last season, we saw a couple of Knicks come out of nowhere and be game-changers for the team. Without these players, New York would not have made it to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2013.
Entering the 2023-24 season, the roster looks a bit different, meaning fans could see some more underrated players show out once again. If so, the Knicks could potentially push even further into the playoffs than they did last season.
These three players were all solid in 2022-23. However, now, they can make the leap to genuine difference-makers. If this happens, expect a big season for New York in which they could potentially earn a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals.
3 underrated Knicks who could make a big difference in 2023-24
3. Quentin Grimes
Most fans know just how impactful Quentin Grimes was for the Knicks last season. Entering 2023-24, though, there’s a chance fans will see the 23-year-old take yet another leap, but this time potentially into stardom. The odds of Grimes progressing into an actual All-Star are slim, but it seems he’s primed to take a big jump that could earn him some votes.
Unfortunately, a lot of this relies on Tom Thibodeau using Grimes more often in both the off-ball and with the rock in his hands. If Thibs does this for Grimes, there’s reason to believe that Grimes could make the jump from 11.3 PPG to anywhere from 15-20 PPG. When you combine his scoring with his elite defense, Grimes could earn some serious respect from the league.
However, if Thibs continues to stick Grimes in the corner, he’ll likely have a similar season from a statistical standpoint. Grimes has shown tons of potential to be a very productive player with the ball in his hands, but he needs the reps to show that he can do so at a sustainable level. This is where Thibodeau and his playcalling would come in.
Instead of consistently giving Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, and RJ Barrett isolation plays to run the shot clock out, the Knicks need to spread the ball out more. Thibodeau doesn’t have to necessarily make Grimes a focal point on the offense, but give him more off-ball screens or dribble hand-off plays instead of relegating him to be a pure spot-up shooter.
It’s doubtful that fans will see such a drastic change, but one can hope. Regardless, fans know what Grimes is capable of and that he will make a big impact. Even if he doesn’t get tons of reps with the ball, his overall improvement will allow him to be an even better role player than he was last season. If he manages to make the jump, the Knicks could become title contenders.