When Dennis Smith Jr. came over to the New York Knicks via trade last season, many believed it could be the break he needed to elevate himself into a true star. Many even thought he could be their point guard of the future.
Unfortunately, the former ninth overall pick hasn't found his stride in the Big Apple and was having a horrible third season with the Knicks before the season got suspended. In fact, the former NC State standout found himself as the third string point guard, playing behind Elfrid Payton and Frank Ntilikina.
According to an NBA scout who talked to Marc Berman of The New York Post, Smith may need to change his playing style and perhaps even a new coach to realize his full potential.
“He thinks too much about his shot and trying to score the ball,’’ an NBA scout said. “He needs to be more of lead pass-first guard and score second. Dennis also need a coach who shows him love and gives him confidence. The quickness and ability to dribble drive is always there but he wants to always be the highlight play with traffic dunks.”
The scout added that the Knicks guard need to learn how to run a team and worry less about scoring, especially given his lack of scoring weapons.
“Right now there looks to be a lack of ability to run a team. But he’s got the ability if he would accept his role, to learn to be a pass-first point guard and don’t worry about buckets.”
In 34 appearances for the Knicks this season, Smith averaged just 5.5 points and 2.9 assists while playing nearly 16 minutes a night. This comes after a promising rookie campaign with the Dallas Mavericks, during which he averaged 15.2 markers and 5.2 assists. Unfortunately from that point on, his career trajectory has been sliding down.
Dennis Smith Jr. definitely has the tools to become a great player in this league. His athleticism is obviously his best strength, but he needs to learn how to use it to his advantage. Likewise, one of the 6-foot-2 guard's weaknesses is his shooting. Luckily, this is a part of his game that he can still develop with more reps.
Follow Us
Subscribe