New York Knicks starting center Taj Gibson would be a great mentor for current Westchester Knick defensive anchor Kenny Wooten. This vet/rookie pairing would be similar to the 2018-19 NBA season when former Knick starting center DeAndre Jordan was mentoring Mitchell Robinson for the second half the season after the Kristaps Porzingis trade.
Kenny Wooten’s game is developing rapidly and he possesses a similar playing style fundamentally to Taj Gibson especially since Wooten added the mid-range jumper to his arsenal. Athletically, Kenny Wooten is definitely in another stratosphere. Taj Gibson never dreamed of being an athletic freak like Wooten, however, it doesn’t mean Gibson can’t teach the young aspiring rim protector some defensive principles and offensive fundamentals.
Motor is definitely not a problem for Wooten. The former Oregon defensive anchor went undrafted in the 2018-19 NBA Draft due to his one-dimensional style. However, Wooten has always been dominant in his one-dimensional style which of course is shot-blocking and rim protection. Kenny Wooten is undersized for the center position at 6’8″ and that concerned many scouts. However, he does possess a 7’2″ wingspan and a 36″ standing vertical which is outstanding athletically. Wooten has always been a beast when vertically contesting his opponents, however, there’s some improvement to be made for his horizontal defense and that could be technique related. Therefore, a potential mentor in Taj Gibson may bring out the best version of Kenny Wooten defensively. Wooten’s improvement on his high arching mid-range jumper is a plus and Gibson can work with the young stud on how to use that mid-range jumper to his advantage more efficiently.
Overall, the Knicks must call up Kenny Wooten from G-League affiliate Westchester Knicks, swiftly, rapidly, speedily, and immediately. Bringing in a one-dimensional talent like Wooten who seems to have the motor to learn and placing him under interim coach Mike Miller, along with the tutelage of Taj Gibson could be a seed well planted for the future.