It wasn’t that long ago that the New York Knicks were a franchise that was in complete disarray. The team’s biggest superstar couldn’t stay healthy, there was a major lack of young talent, and the depth pieces simply didn’t exist. A lot has changed under Phil Jackson’s watch – even though he has been heavily criticized at many turns. In less than one full season, the Knicks have gone from one of the worst teams in the NBA to a team that should make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. New York hasn’t won any hardware just yet but there is a lot to like about what the franchise has accomplished in a short period of time. Here is a look at the four biggest reasons why the New York Knicks are finally starting to look like a respectable franchise.
Anthony Is Player Like A Superstar
Carmelo Anthony was limited to just 40 games a year ago because of injuries and there were all sorts of concerns about what type of shape he’d return in and whether his best days were behind him. Well, so far, so good. The 31-years-old has managed to stay healthy this season and he is playing like a superstar for New York. Anthony has averaged 21.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game for the New York Knicks in 44 games this year. That’s exactly what the Knicks had hoped for as he’s the linchpin to any success they’ll be having.
Porzingis Has Been A Hit
It’s amazing to reflect back on how the fans booed when New York announced Kristaps Porzingis as the fourth-overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. Knicks’ fans certainly aren’t booing him anymore. The 7’3’’ center has thrived as a 20-year-old in the NBA this season, averaging 13.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 19 blocks per game. Porzingis has only started to tap in to his considerable potential and the reality is that he will only continue to get better. They were hoping that he would be a project that could eventually turn into someone that be Robin to Anthony’s Batman, but that’s already happened. Even though he’s a precocious rookie, he has been the second scoring option for the team on most nights.
New York landed a freak physical specimen that has the potential to be a dominant franchise cornerstone for years to come. Porzingis is a big reason this team has started to look respectable again.
Afflalo Has Thrived In New York
The New York Knicks made a ton of moves in the offseason as they continued to rebuild their roster. One of the most underrated acquisitions was bringing in Arron Afflalo. The veteran guard has averaged 14.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 42 games this season and he should only get better as this team continues to develop its overall chemistry. He was coming a terrible shooting year in Denver last season but has fit in just fine. He’s provided great support for Anthony and Porzingis when necessary and he’s been a solid defensive player too. Afflalo is already 30-years-old but he still has the potential to thrive in New York over the next couple of seasons.
The Depth Additions Have Worked Out
Afflalo certainly isn’t the only veteran addition that has worked out for the Knicks this season. In fact, the depth additions are a big reason why New York has moved that much closer to respectability again. Derrick Williams was another flier that the team took that paid off. The former lottery pick has been a forgotten man in the NBA but the Knicks have turned water into wine with him. He has averaged 9.4 points and 3.9 rebounds in just 17.5 minutes per game this season while mixing in some big games. Robin Lopez has held his own at the center position with 8.8 points and 6.0 rebounds in 24.9 minutes per game while providing steady defense. The New York Knicks have loved what they have received from Langston Galloway too but the fact that he has been so steady has made it easy to overlook the development of another rookie first-round pick, Jerian Grant. Grant’s numbers haven’t looked very impressive on paper but he has the potential to be a starter in the NBA and he has made significant progress this season. Anthony, Porzingis and Afflalo have led the way this season but remember that this was a team so short on talent coming off the bench. That’s not the case anymore thanks to the shrewd moves by the front office.
