New York Knicks guard Allonzo Trier is being compared to Knickerbockers legend John Starks this early in his pro career. The 22-year-old claims that he doesn't know what to feel and simply wants to play his game.
As per Marc Berman of the New York Post, Trier was asked if there are similarities between his playstyle and Starks'. Trier said that it's not for him to say if they're really similar or not. But he admitted that it's a great honor to be compared to one of the franchise's all-time greats.
“I’m not sure,” Trier said about any similarities. “I don’t know if it’s for me to say if we compare or we’re similar or not. I’ll let other people judge. I’ll just play my game. But it’s real cool to be compared to one of the guys who’s one of the all-time Knicks players and did a lot of great things here. It’s an honor.”
Trier added that he's seen some old tapes of Starks and described him as a gritty player — a tag which the 22-year-old has been given through his first 11 games as a pro, where he's logged in 11.5 points per game on 49.4 percent shooting.
Apart from their gritty, if not hot-headed, style of play, both Trier and Starks entered the league as undrafted prospects. Controversies in college marred Trier's reputation prior to the draft. But the Knicks looked past it and gave him a shot.
Now, the head coach David Fizdale seems to have complete trust in the rookie, even in late-game moments. Even when Tim Hardaway Jr. returns, Fizdale won't hesitate to call Trier's number in crunch time:
“He’s going to have his moments for sure,” Fizdale said. “When Tim’s healthy, he’s going to be a guy we look to in those situations, but ‘Zo will definitely have ample opportunity in the crunch to win some of these games.”
Trier signed a two-way contract with the Knicks back in July.
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