New York Knicks already taking major steps forward in rebuild

The New York Knicks have officially executed Plan-B this offseason after missing out on superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Settling for second-tier free agents like Julius Randle and Marcus Morris, the Knicks are in a good place moving forward, despite not being in the ideal scenario.

However, their youth foundation and progressive agenda have begun to take shape. Practicing hard, listening to their mentors, and refining their skills will be the priorities for the second-year players and rookies on the squad.

Players like Kevin Knox will now have to battle for their starting position on the team. The signing of Morris will present a legitimate challenge for Knox, who understands that his playing time moving forward wholly depends on his efforts and development. This is a good thing, though, as building a successful team requires competition and the desire to win. Being given starting minutes and playing time is a luxury, and Knox will have to face off against veteran players.

Coming off a 17 win season in 2018, the team can finally now begin to bond on a different level and develop chemistry with one another. Youth is a great thing, but it also presents challenges.

Here’s what Knox had to say about the growth of the New York Knicks this offseason:

“Very competitive practices so far,’’ Knox said. “You can tell all the guys are hungry and looking forward to training camp. A lot of guys have been impressive. You can tell a lot of guys have been working on their games all summer. I watched a lot those guys playing on TV last year. Everyone’s game has gotten a lot better. I can’t wait to get to training camp and jell together.”

Family has been an essential factor for the youngsters and veterans since the roster has come together:

“We just got guys now who are going out, playing hard, talking trash,’’ Knox said of the workouts that began in late August, per the NY Post. “We’re a family, smile with each other after, but between the lines, it’s a totally different team than last year. You can definitely tell — the whole tenacity we’re playing with. It’s definitely going to carry over to the season. We have a lot of guys going after each other. That’s what we want.”

These comments are incredibly encouraging and exciting for Knicks fans, who have waited a long time to enjoy competitive basketball.