Kevin Knox flashed a quick smile, then answered the question everyone wanted an answer to.
The formerly paper-thin Knox was visibly bulkier in an appearance at the Puma Hoops NYC launch on Monday. It was an area the second-year player knew he needed to improve after a rocky rookie season.
“Just the physicality of the game. It’s very physical down there in paint, driving to the basket,” Knox said. “It’s definitely gonna help in my second year, in terms of taking more contact and finish in contact at the rim.
“The game is getting very physical on people, so I’ve gotta learn to finish through contact, dunk on people, so I’ve gotta have the confidence that I have the strength to do all that.”
The added strength would help him tremendously.
Knox is one of a handful of keepers from the Knicks’ 2018-19 roster that finished a franchise worst-tying 17-65 record. He averaged 13.5 points in a rookie season he admitted was up and down, but says he’s excited with the roster the Knicks have put together this season.
“I’m very excited. I think we have a really good team going into training camp,” he said. “We’ve had very competitive practices so far, we haven’t even gotten started yet.”
Knicks legend Walt “Clyde” Frazier agreed. He admitted he was disappointed in his organization for falling short of landing a superstar in the loaded free agency class, but Frazier says the Knicks’ backup plan was better than many are making it out to be. The Knicks struck out on Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, but a bevy of free agents, including Julius Randle, Bobby Portis, Taj Gibson, Marcus Morris, Wayne Ellington and Elfrid Payton. The Knicks are a team that project to compete on the defensive end of the floor, if anything.
“We’ve got some dogs,” rookie RJ Barrett said.
“Obviously I was disappointed we didn’t get a big superstar, but I like Plan B,” Frazier said. “I like the players that they have signed. I think there’s a lot of talent there. It’s a lot of versatility there, and they’re gonna put pressure on these guys.”
Barrett said he’s always wanted to be a Knick because “it just felt right,” but he doesn’t feel the pressure that comes with the bright lights in the Big Apple. His mother is from Brooklyn, and both Barrett’s parents attended St. John’s. More importantly, his father is a former Olympian, and his godfather, Steve Nash, has a basketball resume that speaks for itself.
“When you have that around you,” Barrett said, “it’s like I haven’t done a thing yet.”
One thing he and Knox will have to do: earn minutes. Knox said Knicks head coach David Fizdale made it clear nobody deserves minutes just because. That means Knox and Barrett will have to compete for their rightful place in this year’s lineup, just like everybody else on the roster.
“Nobody’s guaranteed no starting lineups, no minutes none of that,” Knox said. “[Fizdale] kind of voiced that in his messages to us. Everybody’s gonna have to earn their minutes. I think that’s gonna be great for us going into training camp, knowing that nobody’s got a starting spot.”
