Kevin Knox isn’t passing the blame on his unsuccessful Knicks tenure.
Now on his third workforce with the Pistons, Knox, the previous Knicks lottery decide, mentioned he flubbed the prospect from Tom Thibodeau earlier than the commerce final season.
“I had my fair opportunity. I didn’t make the best of it, unfortunately,” Knox mentioned. “But it is what it is. You got to learn from it.”
Knox, 23, was dealt as a wage filler to the Hawks for Cam Reddish, ending his 3 ½ season stint in New York that began with nice hope. Briefly, Knox represented the franchise’s high prospect because the ninth general decide and Rookie of the Month in 2018.
However, Knox by no means shook his fame as a poor defender with a low motor. His taking part in time dipped each season and Knox was minimize from the rotation below Thibodeau.
Knox’s trajectory fell effectively behind the participant instantly drafted after him by the Suns, Mikal Bridges.
“Guys make changes. Teams make changes. Bring new guys in. I put it all on me. I got to work harder,” mentioned a noticeably stronger Knox. “Play better defense. All the narratives they created. I put it all on me.”
“It was a long time ago,” Knox added about being criticized for his protection and energy. “Two or three years ago. It feels like it was yesterday. It is what it is. I’m going to change the narrative.”
The general tenure was a disappointment, however Knox had some optimistic moments and highlights. He was the star of his first Summer League in 2018. Then he gained Rookie of the Month and dunked on Ben Simmons.
“I had fun playing basketball then,” Knox mentioned.
Knox signed a two-year, $6 million take care of the Pistons over the summer season, with the primary 12 months and half the wage assured. It’s a make-good scenario and Knox has a spot within the rotation.
He was additionally wanting ahead to going through his former workforce.
“One hundred percent,” Knox mentioned. “Every game is a chip but this one is one of the most important. Circled in the calendar, for sure.”
KEMBA’S STILL AVAILABLE
Among the three former Knicks on the Pistons, solely Knox was anticipated to play Friday. Alec Burks remains to be recovering from foot surgical procedure and Nerlens Noel is coping with foot ache.
The Pistons additionally traded for Kemba Walker on draft evening, however purchased out his contract earlier than the season. Detroit coach Dwane Casey mentioned there was by no means a plan to maintain Walker, who was minimize from the Knicks rotation final season and despatched house.
“No. We understood where Kemba was at that time,” Casey mentioned. “There was a conversation about the buyout. Plus we also just got Jaden Ivey and Cade Cunningham. And also we had Cory Joseph. So we were loaded.”
Walker stays unsigned.
“It’s sort of the nature of the league,” Thibodeau mentioned. “Kemba was a terrific player in this league and he’s a great guy. But the way the league is going, he may get another opportunity. I hope he does. He’s a great guy.”
THE TRADE EVEN MITCHELL THOUGHT HAPPENED
Donovan Mitchell was so satisfied he was headed to the Knicks that he informed “everybody” and commenced plotting dwelling preparations.
“On Sept. 1, I went to sleep like, ‘I’m on the Knicks. I’m going to New York.,’” Mitchell mentioned on the Old Man & The Three podcast. “I’m constructing a home again house. I used to be already doing that anyway. So I bought to expedite that. We bought to get all these things discovered.
“That was the moment where I was pretty certain that was going to be the case. Literally, I told everybody, ‘Alright keep this quiet, but this is probably going to happen.’”
The Knicks haggled over draft picks, amongst different issues, and the Cavaliers swooped in to nab the All-Star.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com