Kevin Knox has been rather underwhelming in his NBA career. Unlike some of his 2018 draftmates, the 9th overall pick failed to find any semblance of form with the New York Knicks. It's gotten to the point where prior to the Cam Reddish trade that brought him to the Hawks, Knox has relegated to the end of the bench.
Knox's benching on the Knicks has left his father, Kevin Knox Sr., incredibly confused. Speaking to the New York Post, Knox Sr. openly questioned the team's decision to leave his son on the bench, saying:
“That’s a great question for [Knicks head coach] Tom Thibodeau. I think we turned the corner. Everybody could see the progression of a young Kevin Knox where he wasn’t really a defensive liability. I think Tom Thibodeau did a great job helping Kevin be a better defensive player. At some point, I think he did become that. He’s always had that stroke and so it become puzzling throughout the organization on why he wasn’t playing Kevin.”
Early on in his career, Knox was infamous for being a traffic cone on defense. Despite his physical tools, the ex-Knicks forward looked absolutely lost on defense at times. However, as Knox Sr. pointed out, the Kentucky alum has made significant strides with regards to his defense.
Kevin Knox II will have a chance to revive his career in Atlanta, where he'll be playing alongside fellow 2018 draftee Trae Young. Perhaps a change in scenery will be the boost the forward needs to blossom into the player the Knicks thought he could be.