Former lottery pick Trey Burke has come out like a bat out of hell in the last two games following the All-Star break, leading the New York Knicks with 26 points in each game, despite a swift change for another high draftee in Emmanuel Mudiay as the starting point guard.
The Michigan alum has flourished as a reserve and with former starting point guard Jarrett Jack out of the way, the road is clear for the 25-year-old to make a key change, one he attributes to a better sense of direction and stability at this point of his career.
“I'm living better,” Burke said, according to ESPN's Ian Begley. “Now, being married [to his longtime girlfriend, De'Monique, over the summer], not being out partying and being more focused and more locked in on my assignment each and every day — which, right now, is a 25-year-old man in basketball. My faith helps me perform at a better level.”
“I feel like I kind of lost that when I first got to the NBA.”
Prior to the break, Burke had a DNP-coach's decision on Valentine's Day and had played a combined 12 minutes in the two prior games.
Sure these are only two games after a myriad of single-digit performances, but there's no doubt that Burke has responded when given the chance. The fifth-year veteran attempted 22 and 19 shots in each of his last two games, shooting over 50 percent in both, playing an average of 28 minutes between the two.
“Trey's been excellent,” Hornacek said. “It's kind of that Kyrie [Irving] factor. When you have a point guard that can shoot 3s, can drive the ball and can kick it out to guys, it puts a lot of pressure on the defense.”
After three seasons of underachieving with the Utah Jazz, Burke's chance was slim with the Washington Wizards but he made the most of his shot with the Knicks.
“I didn't choose to come here. I really in my heart feel like I heard him [God] telling me to come here,” Burke said. “Because I was a free agent and it didn't make sense in the natural eye because you have these opportunities [to play in the NBA] right now. Why wouldn't you go to OKC? But it makes sense because I know what type of platform comes with being a New York Knick… This is the biggest market in the world.”
Hornacek is playing Mudiay as the starter and giving rookie Frank Ntilikina all the minutes he can handle, but the remaining 21 games should serve as big-time chance to let Burke flourish at either guard spot and become a key player off the bench to jump-start his career once again.
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