Kevin Knox is going to be a defensive stopper

The New York Knicks are entering the season knowing that they could possibly miss the services of All-Star Kristaps Porzingis for most of the year. This gives head coach David Fizdale the opportunity to throw in Kevin Knox at the deep end in his first year on the job.

The ninth overall pick of the draft looks like he's well aware of the challenge ahead.

“That’s going to be every night, coming in. New York, the Garden, everybody’s coming in here to try and drop their career high,’’ Knox said per Marc Berman of The New York Post. “Fiz is going to put me on them, they’re going to try and go at me.”

The Madison Square Garden is the “Mecca of Basketball.” NBA stars always tend to put on a show, and place their best foot forward for The Garden crowd.

Unfortunately for the rookie Knox, he will be on the receiving end of those performances. While he does have some upside on defense with his length and versatility, that still isn't his calling card as a basketball player. Regardless, Fizdale will look to test him defensively throughout the season.

The former Kentucky standout already knows that he will be matched-up against the likes of LeBron James when the Los Angeles Lakers visits town, or Kevin Durant when the defending champion Golden State Warriors takes on the Knicks.

Nonetheless, Knox will but placed on the burner early in his career as Coach Fiz looks to challenge him. Fizdale has no choice but to make his 19-year old rookie go through all the bumps and bruises in what should be a development year for the Knicks.

The good thing about Knox is that he looks like he's already gearing up for the beating he will go through this year.