Despite the acquisition of former lottery pick Emmanuel Mudiay prior to the NBA trade deadline and the promise of more playing time for another Top 10 draftee in Frank Ntilikina, former college standout Trey Burke has been the feel-good story for an otherwise lost season for the New York Knicks.
Having stepped up his play with the rightful share of minutes following the All-Star break, Burke has closely replicated the phenomenon known as Linsanity, posting eerily similar numbers to Jeremy Lin during his first two starts in orange and blue, per The Athletic's Diamond Leung.
Trey Burke in his first two starts for the Knicks: 61 points, 59 FG%, 15 assists, 4 turnovers. Jeremy Lin first two starts during Linsanity: 51 points, 61 FG%, 18 assists, 10 turnovers.
Burke has been more of a scorer, especially trusted into the shooting guard role next to Ntilikina. He showed that against the Charlotte Hornets.
He turned down two-way deals prior to the start of the season with hopes of re-inventing himself as a point guard in the G League — an honest assessment that has undeniably paid dividends for him and his career.
“I had to look myself in the mirror and be real with myself,” Burke said, according to James Herbert of CBS Sports. “I had to kind of stop lying to myself about I should be here, I should be this, this team should put me in this position when I wasn't doing everything necessary to put myself in that position.”
Burke had a second chance after three seasons in Utah, but the Washington Wizards' scarce minutes only resulted in career-low numbers, making his stock plummet.
“In the past there was disappointment and frustration,” Burke said. “But I knew it would turn around. It was all dependent on me and how I approached things. But going forward, where I am now, I'm very proud. I think the sky's the limit. I think I've been through a lot of the worst of the worst when it comes to being a top-10 pick. I believe that it's only up from here.”
His numbers are starting to reflect just that, putting up 20.2 points and 6.2 assists per game in his last five games, putting his name out there for teams searching backcourt talent.
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