Summer League started off with a bang for Kevin Knox and the New York Knicks.
In a much-anticipated early July matchup in Las Vegas against Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans, the Knicks' 2018 lottery selection was quickly made mincemeat by the NBA's first overall pick. Knox was on the wrong end of a highlight reel, having the ball snatched out of his grasp by Williamson and falling to the ground while the former Blue Devil easily slammed home a dunk.
Here's what Knox, entering his second season in the NBA, had to say about that moment and facing the intimidating Williamson, via Bob Putnam in the Tampa Bay Times:
“The atmosphere was crazy,” Knox said. “It was like a playoff game. The crowd was screaming. Zion is a great player. He’s young, and he’s going to have a lot of stuff to work on. But he’s very powerful and gets to the rim really well.
“The coaches asked me if I was ready for the challenge, and I said I was. That’s what I worked on all summer. I was ready to play defensively against Zion, somebody that’s a powerful-type player with his athleticism.”
Knox, who turns 20 years old in one week, shot poorly overall from the field for his second straight trip to Vegas for New York. In the offseason, the Knicks signed multiple forwards who could potentially get in the way of Knox's playing time.
Kevin Knox averaged 12.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 28.8 minutes per game last season for the Knicks, shooting 37.0% from the field, 34.3% from 3-point range, and 71.7% from the free-throw line.
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