The New York Knicks are expecting big things out of their third-year point guard in Dennis Smith Jr. He’s one of the more athletically elite players at the position in the league and can change the course of the game on a dime.
His dunking abilities make him explosive, but his shooting has been lackluster since his inception into the NBA in 2016. However, he has worked tirelessly at this off-season in Westchester with shooting Coach Keith Smart to improve his perimeter jump-shot and overall scoring efficiency.
The former Dallas Maverick has averaged 14.5 points per game in two years. With the Knicks last season, his numbers elevated a bit from 12.9 in Dallas over 32 games to 14.7 in New York. Additionally, his assist totals skyrocketed. He averaged almost one assist more per game in MSG than in the first half of the season with the Mavs.
The New York Knicks point guard is showing off this offseason:
If you are worried about his scoring ability, Smith Jr. put on a show in the Crossover League on Monday. Posting 50 points and an array of impressive dunks, the point guard showed why Knicks next are so high on him and expect him to be an influential part of the team during the 2019-20 season. One deficiency for Dennis has been his health, as he has failed to be a consistent option on the floor.
DSJ put on a show and went off for 50 at the Crawsover ?
(via @brhoops) pic.twitter.com/LFOJN7UNy1
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 26, 2019
The Knicks went out and signed veteran point guard Elfrid Payton this off-season to help supplement Smith’s inadequate traits. Staying healthy will be a significant part of Dennis’s success next season, but if he can maintain that part of his game, he can be one of the best players on the court for the Knicks. He has all of the potentials in the world, and we should expect him to elevate his game for head coach David Fizdale and his new teammates, old and young.