New York Knicks: Is Kevin Knox finally reaching his potential?

The New York Knicks have started the regular season off with a 1-3 record, but there is plenty to be excited about, especially in regards to the younger players. Rookie RJ Barrett has been stellar, averaging 20.5 points and 3.2 assists per game, far improved from his shaky preseason.

However, the development of Kevin Knox has been significant, consider one year ago he embarked on a historically lousy rookie campaign. Knox has alleviated some concerns by increasing his muscle mass and being more aggressive towards the basket.

He has yet to start a regular-season game, but his influence off the bench has been helpful. Averaging 12.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, his totals have just about replicated his 2018 numbers with five fewer minutes on the floor. That’s a great indication of improvement, and we should expect to see more in the future from the 20-year-old power forward.

After 57 games as a rookie, Knox’s talents coming off the bench might better suit his style of play. A quick influx in work rate and aggressiveness has proven to be substantial for the Knicks, as he’s shooting 56.3 percent on three-pointers after knocking down just 34.3 percent in 2018.

“You see him. You remember last year. He was unsure, which a lot of kids are that first year. Now he’s starting to understand,” coach David Fizdale said following Monday’s win over the Bulls. “He sees the game a little slower. I think he’s physically more confident. He spent a lot of time working on his shot and simplifying his shot. When it leaves his hands, I feel like it’s got a really good chance of going in.”

Coach Fizdale is right; the game slows down as young players refine their abilities and gain essential game experience. The more time Knox has on the floor, the more he can become a more intricate puzzle piece.

New York Knicks’ Kevin Knox commented on his improvement this season:

“I’m taking some of the bad shots out of my game and just knocking down some of the open ones,” Knox said. “I’m trying to get my field-goal percentage up overall.”

Shot selection is a relevant category that Knox struggled with in his rookie year, but that’s expected. Overall, he’s done a much better job taking open shots and utilizing space on the floor.