In light of the recent reports of pure disappointment regarding New York Knicks young guns Kevin Knox and Frank Ntilikina, head coach David Fizdale took out the claws and scratched back at critics after the two were labeled as “soft” by various talent evaluators.
“I think I've got a 19-year-old and a 20-year-old trying to figure out the NBA, the league that's full of the absolute best players in the world, the best coaches in the world, doing it in the absolute toughest market in America. Give them a break,” said Fizdale, according to Steve Popper of Newsday. “These guys are learning on the fly. Whoever, criticizing them, let me know how many people can become great at 19 and 20 while they're being punched in the face and they're learning it all at the same time.
“I don't hear those critics. My kids come in here and bust their hump every day. Our organization, we love our kids. We put our arms around them. We're in here just trying to get them better every single day. And they're going to go through struggles. That's just part of the deal.”
The earlier report expressed poignant disappointment, but by no means a desire to part ways with either of them. The Knicks are very much still in rebuild mode and shuffling pieces to find the best fit positionally and organizationally for all the young players. The Knicks are expected to stress patience in a “Trust The Process” type of way, especially given the current situation with injured All-Star Kristaps Porzingis.
New York will have a decision on its hands with the contracts of Damyean Dotson and Allonzo Trier — two talents who have impressed early on and could carve out a place in the rotation moving forward.
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