It looked like Kevin Knox, New York Knicks’ ninth overall pick in 2018 NBA Draft, is off to a great start of his NBA career. Knox started all Knicks preseason games, leading people to believe that he will be a starter in his rookie season. But New York’s head coach David Fizdale decided to go in other direction and announced on Tuesday Frank Ntilikina will take the starting spot from Knox at the beginning of the season.

According to Fizdale, Ntilikina, who was the eighth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, earned to be a starter.

“I think the most important thing I was trying to get out of it was culturally you’ve got to earn it,” – said Fizdale. “I don’t think Kevin got to the point where he earned it more than Frank. But there were some good things for Kevin (in the preseason), and I was really happy with him having to go through highs and lows early on.“

Kevin Knox had a great showing in NBA Summer League, where he averaged 21.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. In the preseason games, however, he showed great inconsistency, shooting 33 percent from the field and averaging only 8.8 points per game.

“He had the two double-doubles early and then he hit a wall.” – added Fizdale. “That’s just a learning opportunity for him. I don’t want to reward that yet. I do think Frank, consistently throughout the preseason, no matter where I put him, he got the job done. So for our culture that’s more important.“

The role of a starter will be a new one for Frank Ntilikina, who spent his rookie season mostly coming off the bench. In 78 games played in the last season, Ntilikina averaged 5.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game.

The post Knicks’ Opt to Start Frank Ntilikina Over Rookie Kevin Knox appeared first on SportzBonanza.

NBA recently published the results of its annual rookie survey. The league surveyed 36 rookies on multiple topics, and these first-year players had some interesting opinions. When asked who among them will have the best NBA career, the rookies opted for Wendell Carter Jr, who was selected seventh overall by Chicago Bulls in this year’s draft.

On the second place came New York Knicks’ Kevin Knox and Los Angeles Clippers’ Jerome Robinson, while five players shared the third place among themselves. The surprising thing was that the third overall pick, Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic, failed to receive any votes at all.

https://t.co/lyyU8XV5el pic.twitter.com/EG3Jk0wcBH

— Mason Ginsberg (@MasonGinsberg) August 21, 2018

2018 NBA rookie class also voted on their favorites for Rookie of the Year award. Phoenix Suns’ first overall pick DeAndre Ayton and Cleveland Cavaliers’ eighth overall pick Colin Sexton ended up receiving the most votes. Doncic managed to crack this list alongside Knox, with both players receiving enough votes for the second place.

Elsewhere in the survey, Minnesota Timberwolves’ Keita Bates-Diop, who was drafted 48th overall, was highlighted as the biggest steal in the 2018 draft while Philadelphia 76ers’ Zhaire Smith got the title of the most athletic rookie. Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young was voted as the best shooter and best playmaker while Memphis Grizzlies’ Jevon Carter was marked as the best defender.

Finally, almost the third of the rookies had LeBron James as their favorite player.

The post 2018-19 Rookie Survey: Bulls’ Wendell Carter Jr Will Have the Best NBA Career appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Kevin Knox of the New York Knicks is hoping to be crowned NBA Rookie of the Year for the 2018-19 season.

Knox was selected by the Knicks during the draft on Thursday and fans will have high expectations for him as he was one of the breakout stars for coach John Calipari in Kentucky last year.

The 18-year-old was highly impressive as he managed 15.6 points per game on average and certainly now deserves opportunities at the highest level.

With a 6’9” hybrid forward and an almost 7’0” wingspan and a 9’0” standing reach, Knox also has the qualities which should allow him to defend well.

He does arguably have the qualities which are required to challenge for the Rookie of the year award if he makes the most of his ability and works hard.

He will be surrounded by players whom he can learn from such as Trey Burke, Emmanuel Mudiay and Frank Ntilikina who will be able to assist him in creating offense.

The post Kevin Knox Aiming for 2018-19 Rookie of the Year Award appeared first on SportzBonanza.

It looked like Kevin Knox, New York Knicks’ ninth overall pick in 2018 NBA Draft, is off to a great start of his NBA career. Knox started all Knicks preseason games, leading people to believe that he will be a starter in his rookie season. But New York’s head coach David Fizdale decided to go in other direction and announced on Tuesday Frank Ntilikina will take the starting spot from Knox at the beginning of the season.

According to Fizdale, Ntilikina, who was the eighth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, earned to be a starter.

“I think the most important thing I was trying to get out of it was culturally you’ve got to earn it,” – said Fizdale. “I don’t think Kevin got to the point where he earned it more than Frank. But there were some good things for Kevin (in the preseason), and I was really happy with him having to go through highs and lows early on.“

Kevin Knox had a great showing in NBA Summer League, where he averaged 21.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. In the preseason games, however, he showed great inconsistency, shooting 33 percent from the field and averaging only 8.8 points per game.

“He had the two double-doubles early and then he hit a wall.” – added Fizdale. “That’s just a learning opportunity for him. I don’t want to reward that yet. I do think Frank, consistently throughout the preseason, no matter where I put him, he got the job done. So for our culture that’s more important.“

The role of a starter will be a new one for Frank Ntilikina, who spent his rookie season mostly coming off the bench. In 78 games played in the last season, Ntilikina averaged 5.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game.

The post Knicks’ Opt to Start Frank Ntilikina Over Rookie Kevin Knox appeared first on SportzBonanza.

NBA recently published the results of its annual rookie survey. The league surveyed 36 rookies on multiple topics, and these first-year players had some interesting opinions. When asked who among them will have the best NBA career, the rookies opted for Wendell Carter Jr, who was selected seventh overall by Chicago Bulls in this year’s draft.

On the second place came New York Knicks’ Kevin Knox and Los Angeles Clippers’ Jerome Robinson, while five players shared the third place among themselves. The surprising thing was that the third overall pick, Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic, failed to receive any votes at all.

https://t.co/lyyU8XV5el pic.twitter.com/EG3Jk0wcBH

— Mason Ginsberg (@MasonGinsberg) August 21, 2018

2018 NBA rookie class also voted on their favorites for Rookie of the Year award. Phoenix Suns’ first overall pick DeAndre Ayton and Cleveland Cavaliers’ eighth overall pick Colin Sexton ended up receiving the most votes. Doncic managed to crack this list alongside Knox, with both players receiving enough votes for the second place.

Elsewhere in the survey, Minnesota Timberwolves’ Keita Bates-Diop, who was drafted 48th overall, was highlighted as the biggest steal in the 2018 draft while Philadelphia 76ers’ Zhaire Smith got the title of the most athletic rookie. Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young was voted as the best shooter and best playmaker while Memphis Grizzlies’ Jevon Carter was marked as the best defender.

Finally, almost the third of the rookies had LeBron James as their favorite player.

The post 2018-19 Rookie Survey: Bulls’ Wendell Carter Jr Will Have the Best NBA Career appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Kevin Knox of the New York Knicks is hoping to be crowned NBA Rookie of the Year for the 2018-19 season.

Knox was selected by the Knicks during the draft on Thursday and fans will have high expectations for him as he was one of the breakout stars for coach John Calipari in Kentucky last year.

The 18-year-old was highly impressive as he managed 15.6 points per game on average and certainly now deserves opportunities at the highest level.

With a 6’9” hybrid forward and an almost 7’0” wingspan and a 9’0” standing reach, Knox also has the qualities which should allow him to defend well.

He does arguably have the qualities which are required to challenge for the Rookie of the year award if he makes the most of his ability and works hard.

He will be surrounded by players whom he can learn from such as Trey Burke, Emmanuel Mudiay and Frank Ntilikina who will be able to assist him in creating offense.

The post Kevin Knox Aiming for 2018-19 Rookie of the Year Award appeared first on SportzBonanza.