I’m All Aboard The Kevin Knox Hype Train, And It Looks Like I May Not Be Getting Off Anytime Soon

When I was at the NBA Draft almost three weeks ago, I fully expected the Knicks to take Kevin Knox. I wasn’t a huge fan of Knox when I watched tape on him before the draft, but in the days prior, I began to convince myself that he was the right pick for the Knicks.

Anyway… The Knicks go on the clock at pick 9, and Michael Porter Jr. and Mikal Bridges are on the board. I look up to my left and there are full sections chanting Michael Porter’s name. I knew in my mind that Kevin Knox was going to be the pick, but at that moment, I was on the Michael Porter hype train. However, I just want to let everyone know in writing that I didn’t chant Michael Porter, and I didn’t boo Kevin Knox when he was drafted. Just because some kid and his dad decided they should cry and boo when the Knicks draft players doesn’t mean that all Knick fans do that.

Shortly after that, when Michael Porter Jr. was passed on by the 76ers, Hornets, and Clippers, I was fully convinced that Kevin Knox was the right pick for the New York Knicks. He’s only 18, and has a ton of potential, a lot more than Mikal Bridges, who’s already 21 years old.

Fast forward to a few weeks later… The Las Vegas Summer League. The Summer League means a lot more than people think. Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell, and Kyle Kuzma were three of the biggest standouts from the 2017 NBA Summer League. There’s no coincidence there.

I’m watching the Knicks first Summer League game vs. the Hawks and this happens immediately:

The first points in the hall of fame career of Knicks rookie Kevin Knox pic.twitter.com/13eQPfP2D0

— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) July 7, 2018

I mean… WOAH. What looked like would be a tough contested layup turned into a monster dunk. This was Knox’s first bucket as well. He’s an athletic freak, and it’s clear that he’s learned to use that to his advantage.

Kevin Knox had 22 points and 8 rebounds in his first game, 19 points and 5 rebounds in his second game, and 29 points and 9 rebounds in last night’s game against the Lakers.

Tuesday night’s game vs. the Lakers was absolutely incredible. The Knicks were down 75-50 in the third before going on a monster 26-3 run to end the quarter. This was led by Kevin Knox’s 14 points during run, including 4 three-pointers. Here are some of the highlights:

Kevin Knox has been so good at taking the ball to the hoop, but if he’s shooting the ball from downtown like last night, he’s going to be extremely hard to stop. I haven’t been this excited about a draft pick since Kristaps Porzingis, and the Kristaps hype didn’t really start for me until the regular season. It’s the beginning of good times again for Knick fans. That’s all I have to say.

I’ll leave you with this one stat:

Kevin Knox is currently averaging 23.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in the Las Vegas Summer League.

Only two other rookies this decade have appeared in at least three games and averaged over 22 ppg in summer league play:
John Wall and Damian Lillard#NewYorkKnox

— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) July 11, 2018

Also…. can’t wait for all the play on words for Kevin Knox (Fort Knox, Knoxville, He Knox it down, etc.). Shirts coming soon… stay tuned.