kemba walker

Knicks News, 9/4: Watch Obi Toppin workout video, Kemba Walker hits Yankee Stadium

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New York Knicks, Obi Toppin

It might be considered the off-season for the NBA and New York Knicks players, but their youngsters continue to work diligently to improve their game ahead of the 2021-22 season.

This week, second-year guard Immanuel Quickley was working on his shot creation and ability to drive to the rim, but fellow teammate Obi Toppin was working on his game as well.

Toppin, who underwhelmed during his rookie season, averaging 4.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, and hitting 50% of his shots from the field, is looking to improve his isolation moves and shooting prowess. His Summer League performance was far more promising, averaging 21 points over 35.1 minutes per game. He hit on 44.5% of his shots from the field and 34.3% from three-point range, indicating a 4% increase compared to his final numbers from last season. He also connected on 89% of his free-throw attempts, hauling in 8.3 rebounds, and picked up 1.3 steals per game.

With elevated numbers, Toppin is eyeing a more significant impact in the season ahead, mitigating fatigue for All-Star power forward Julius Randle. In fact, the Knicks could easily try to get both Toppin and Randle on the court at the same time, using the veteran as a small center and allowing Obi to operate out of the power forward spot.

His work ethic is one of the best on the team, representing one of the major reasons the Knicks elected to draft him eighth overall in 2020.

While Toppin spent his week training, new teammate Kemba Walker is getting back to his roots in New York. The Bronx native made a trip to Yankee stadium with rapper ABOOGIEWITDAHOODIE.

Walker, who is enjoying his old stomping grounds, signed a two-year, $17.9 million deal with the Knicks this offseason. After a tough season with the Boston Celtics, where he only featured in 43 games, the Knicks managed to snag him off the market on a fantastic deal that could elevate their team to a serious contender.

If Kemba can remain healthy and productive, the Knicks could have themselves one of the best point guard duos in the league. While both Walker and Derrick Rose have their fair share of issues, playing off one another and mitigating fatigue over an 82-game season could pay off in dividends.

Will the Knicks start Derrick Rose or Kemba Walker next season?

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New York Knicks, Derrick Rose

The Knicks now have the luxury of creating different combinations of players for the 2021-22 season. Last year, head coach Tom Thibodeau had trouble finding multiple lineups they could play at an efficient level.

With a lack of talent at various positions, including point guard and center, the Knicks forced some of the regular starters to play far more than desirable. This upcoming year, the hope is to give their primary players more rest to mitigate fatigue over a full 82-game season. Drafting Quentin Grimes, Miles McBride, and second-year players Immanuel Quickley and Obi Toppin should provide just that. Don’t forget reserve options like Nerlens Noel and Alec Berks, who can contribute immediately on multiple levels.

The most important part of creating combinations is having adequate talent so weaknesses don’t bleed through. One position that is facing an interesting conundrum is point guard, as the Knicks signed both Derrick Rose to an extension and acquired Kemba Walker in a sign and trade with the Boston Celtics.

Rose was offered a three-year, $43.5 million deal with a non-guaranteed year in the third season when he is 34 years old. Walker is set to earn $17.9 million over two seasons, a contract that most would agree is a bargain for his quality.

The question is, who will Tom Thibodeau lean on to be his primary starter?

Some believe that Walker is projected as the starting point guard, but Thibodeau might take a more creative approach to get both players on the floor and resting their bodies over the course of the year. In fact, I would label both of them at starters, as the Knicks will likely interchange them on a nightly basis to hopefully sustain health.

Last season, Rose averaged 25.6 minutes per game, and Walker played 31.8 minutes over 43 games. Theoretically, the Knicks could split the point guard responsibilities evenly and keep both healthy for the entire season. Rose and Walker played 93 games combined last year, 10 more than a regular NBA season.

With the 32-year-old Rose averaging 14.7 points, 4.2 assists, and shooting 47% from the field, the Knicks know they have a floor general who can manage the team properly. Walker is more of a wildcard, averaging 19.3 points, 4.9 assists, and shooting 42% from the field. Walker is capable of providing elite offensive play but is rather streaky at times, which is why Thibodeau might take a more balanced approach to keep both focused and feeling at 100%.

How do you think the Knicks will operate a point guard this upcoming season with Rose and Walker? Comment below!

Knicks have one of the toughest schedules according to Positive Residual

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New York Knicks, Tom Thibodeau

The odds are stacked again against the New York Knicks.

The Knicks have the 19th best odds overall and the 11th best odds in the East to make the playoffs at -135, according to DraftKing Sportsbook.

Crosstown rival Brooklyn Nets are an odds-on favorite to make the playoffs at -20000, followed by reigning champion Milwaukee Bucks (-8000) and the revamped Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns, tied at -3500.

Despite the Knicks retaining much of their core that finished as fourth seed last season and upgrading their backcourt with Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier, teams that didn’t make the playoffs were listed as favorites above them. 

Toronto Raptors (-300), Charlotte Hornets (-215), Indiana Pacers (-170), and Chicago Bulls (-155) have better odds to make the playoffs and the play-in tournament.

It doesn’t help that the Knicks have one of the toughest schedules in the upcoming season. They have the seventh toughest schedule based on Positive Residual’s metrics.

The Los Angeles-based sports analytics service provider said on their website that they measure the strength of schedule (SOS) by estimating how difficult a game or slate of games is based on the opponent’s quality, which is often defined by win percentage, net rating, or points above or below average and other variables such as home team strength, away team strength, rest and altitude at which home team plays. 

Positive Residual SOS chart

The Knicks’ schedule will feature 11 back-to-back games where Walker’s balky knee will be a question mark and two back-breaking road trips in February (5-game road swing in West Coast against playoff contenders) and March (7-game road trip: 5 in West Coast sandwiched by road games in Philadelphia and Brooklyn). But the Knicks front office has prioritized depth to mitigate these factors.

This could be arguably the most stacked team Tom Thibodeau will handle since the MVP Derrick Rose-led 2011 Chicago Bulls team he guided to 62-20 en route to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Thibodeau’s projected starting five this season will feature Walker and Fournier at the backcourt and Barrett, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson in the frontcourt with a deep bench led by Rose, who should be an early favorite to win Sixth Man of the Year, and veteran Alec Burks.

Knicks Projected Depth Chart:

PG Walker, Rose, Quickley, McBride

SG Fournier, Burks, Quickley, Grimes, Vildoza/Bacon

SF Barrett, Burks, Knox

PF Randle, Toppin, Knox, Gibson

C Robinson, Noel, Gibson

The Knicks were never given a chance last season to enter the playoffs, but they defied the 22.5 win odds in the pandemic-condensed 72-game schedule and finished at 41-31. They are pegged as a 42.5-win team this year, with the NBA returning to the regular 82-game schedule.

But with a roster that deep and with Thibodeau, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year, at the helm, it’s hard to bet against the Knicks.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

How Kemba Walker can help take the Knicks’ offense to the next level

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knicks, kemba walker

This offseason, the Knicks went out and signed 4-time All-Star Kemba Walker, and you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who was against this move. Getting such a high-volume scorer for just $9 million per year couldn’t possibly go wrong, right? In hindsight, yes. However, as the starting point guard the Knicks so desperately needed, there is added pressure for Walker to perform well. Coupled in with his recurring knee issues, and there’s real concern that Walker could hamper the play of the hard-nosed Knicks.

Will His Knee Continue to Affect Him?

Despite being the lowest-risk signing the Knicks made all offseason, Kemba Walker has the most boom or bust potential on the roster. The reason for this is due to the fact that no one truly knows how Walker’s knee will continue to hold up. According to him, there’s little reason to worry, as he has continued to downplay the seriousness of his injury:

“I was feeling pretty good. I just had a little hiccup in the playoffs, which sucked obviously. Nobody likes to be injured, especially at that moment. But I felt pretty good all year, to be honest.”

–Kemba Walker via Forbes

If his two seasons in Boston are any indication as to how the knee will impact him in New York, we could reasonably see more regression in the 31-year-old’s play. In these past two years, he saw consecutive decreases in his FG % and points per game, the latter by over 5 points from 2018-19 to 2019-20. With the Celtics, his injury problems effectively relegated him from the status of a bonafide star to simply an offensive threat. This, combined with the large contract Walker had, lowered his value so much that the Celtics needed to additionally send a first and second-rounder to Oklahoma City to offload him.

Now, no one’s saying that the Knicks need Walker to return to his Charlotte form to be successful. However, if they plan on making a deep playoff run in a much-improved Eastern Conference, he will need to be more efficient than he ever was on the Celtics. He won’t have to go out and score 20+ every night, but he will have to covert a higher percentage of his shots.

Will the Knicks’ Depth Help Kemba?

There is one big difference between Walker’s situation last season and the one he finds himself in now. The Celtics lacked depth, whereas the Knicks may be one of the deepest teams in the league. Boston relied heavily on their stars and didn’t have many spark plugs that could pick up the scoring load. New York, on the other hand, could potentially have multiple 10+ PPG scorers off the bench. There’s certainly hope that this could lead to a much more productive season from Walker with having to shoulder less of the scoring than he ever has.

It’s still without saying that Kemba will be the key piece to this Knicks team. They wanted their replacement for the disastrous Elfrid Payton era, and they got it for a very low price. Last year’s team had it all besides consistent scoring outside of Julius Randle. Now, with the additions of Walker and Evan Fournier, they finally have enough players who can create their own offense. Depending on how each player fits in with this team, this team can be really good.

How Good Can the Knicks Be?

If Kemba is able to somehow return to what he was before his injury, this could be the best Knicks team we’ve seen since the 1990s. Yes, even better than the 2012-13 team. A healthy Kemba along with RJ Barrett, Fournier, Randle, and Mitchell Robinson backed by a solid bench could lead to the franchise’s first 2nd round appearance since that aforementioned Carmelo Anthony-led squad.

The possibilities are boundless, and the expectations are high but not too high, so this season could turn out to be another very fun one for the New York Knicks.

Despite what happens this season, the Knicks aren’t risking much by putting all this trust in Walker. The positive behind all of this is that no matter what happens, the Knicks are not bound to him long-term. He’s only under contract for 2 years and a reasonable amount of money. If this doesn’t work out, the future of the team will still be perfectly intact. This is certainly something to be relieved about going forward if you’re a Knicks fan.

Grading the New York Knicks free agent acquisitions

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New York Knicks, NYK

The New York Knicks spent an exorbitant amount of money this off-season to solve multiple positions of weakness. Having secured the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference last season, the team did more than enough to increase their odds of placing even better during the 2021-22 season.

Their free-agent acquisitions will play a big part in taking a step forward this upcoming year, including the retention of three familiar faces that were preparing to hit the market.

Grading the New York Knicks free agent signings:

1.) C: Nerlens Noel

With Mitchell Robinson playing in just 31 games last season, Nerlens Noel was forced into a more significant role. Averaging 5.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and shooting 61.4% from the field, Noel had one of his best years to date. However, his biggest impact came on defense, where he blocked 2.2 shots per contest and stole the ball 1.1 times on average. He was a maestro in the paint, meeting players at the rim to reject shots.

While Noel’s stats don’t stand out, a lot of his value doesn’t show up on the stat sheet. The Knicks seemingly overspent a bit on his retention, extending him on a three-year, $27.7 million deal. However, it is essentially a two-year contract with the third year not guaranteed. Paying him nearly $10 million is quite a lofty amount for a backup center, but the value he provides cannot go unnoticed.

Grade: B-

2.) PG: Derrick Rose

The very moment the Knicks acquired Derrick Rose from the Detroit Pistons at the deadline, the team took a massive step forward. It is clear that Rose is more than capable of being a starting point guard in the NBA, but age has certainly taken its toll on his stamina. With Elfred Payton offering little to nothing during the postseason, Rose was forced to play more minutes, picking up small injuries that impacted his production and efficiency.

Nonetheless, he averaged 14.9 points, 4.2 assists, and shot a career-high 41% from three with the Knicks last season over 35 games.

After realizing how much gas Rose has left in the tank, president Leon Rose elected to re-sign him on a three-year, $43.56 million deal. This is another contract that has no guarantees for the third season, and pairing ham with Kemba Walker should mitigate fatigue for the most part.

Grade: B+

3.) SG: Alec Burks

One of the Knicks’ top scorers last season was Alec Burks, who played an essential role off the bench. Serving as a shooting guard and small forward, the former first-round pick from 2011 averaged 12.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, and shot 42% from the field. He also hit on 41.5% of his shots from three, representing another high percentage shooter who curates immediate offense when called upon.

Burks isn’t the most stout defender, but his ability to play multiple positions and rotate in different combinations was enough to convince the front office to keep him on a three-year, $30 million deal. Burks’s contract also has an out after the second season, as the Knicks eye a potential big-name free agent with the opening of more salary space.

Grade: B

4.) SG/SF: Evan Fournier

One of the Knicks’ more lucrative free-agent acquisitions was Evan Fournier, formerly of the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic. Replacing Reggie Bullock as the team’s primary shooting guard, Fournier averaged 17.1 points last season over 30 minutes per game. Attempting 6.7 3-PT shots per game, he hit on 41.3%, a solid clip. The difference between Fournier and Bullock is that the former is able to create shots for himself, which should take pressure off power forward Julius Randle, who also signed an extension this off-season.

The Knicks landed Fournier on a four-year, $73 million deal. The team has an out after the third season, giving them a bit of flexibility down the road.

Grade: B

5.) PG: Kemba Walker

One of the biggest surprises of the off-season was the signing of Kemba Walker. Having landed him on a two-year, $17.9 million deal, the Knicks couldn’t imagine in their wildest dreams he would be available at such a great price point. Having struggled to stay healthy last season with a degenerative knee issue, Walker was only able to play in 43 games.

After the All-Star break, his statistics skyrocketed, but the injury lingered and eventually forced him to miss more time. At 30 years old, Walker was most recently an All-Star in 2020.

The veteran point guard averaged 19.3 points, 4.9 assists and shot 42% from the field last year. Finding an efficient way for Walker and Randle to play cohesively will be a challenge for New York but can’t be any worse than Payton running around aimlessly like a chicken with its head cut off.

As stated above, the duo of Rose and Walker should be great for limiting minutes and keeping both healthy for a full 82 game season.

Grade: A

6.) Taj Gibson

Gibson’s role on this team falls into two categories, extra reserve, and leadership. Gibson is an all-effort type of player who contributed valiantly during the postseason after Noel picked up an ankle injury. His value as an offensive weapon is next to none, but Taj plays relentless defense and sets the tone for the rest of the team. He signed a two-year, $10.1 million deal with the Knicks, but the 2nd year is non-guaranteed.

Grade: B-

Knicks: Julius Randle aims to come back as a completely better player

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knicks, julius randle, trae young

Even after becoming $140 million richer, New York Knicks’ All-NBA forward Julius Randle continues to put in the work.

Summer is Randle’s favorite season of the year, not because he can enjoy rest and recreation under the sunny weather. He loves it because of the grind.

Randle credited his All-Star and All-NBA season to the offseason work with his long-time personal trainer Tyler Relph and new conditioning coach Melvin Sanders last year.

After a disappointing end in the playoffs to his breakout season, Randle is back in his hometown in Dallas, reconnecting with Relph and Sanders.

“There’s a lot that I can improve on to become a better player and help my team win some more games. And that’s exactly what I’m doing. I love the process,” Randle said on The Jump on the day his new backcourt mates —Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier — were formally introduced at the Garden.

A couple of weeks earlier, Randle agreed to a $117 million, four-year extension with the Knicks that elevated his current contract to $140 million and five years.

Right after the news broke out, Relph tweeted out a congratulatory post accompanied by a photo of Randle working on his game.

”Agree to $140 million and get straight to work! It’s been different! Nothing changes,” Relph said in the caption.

Relph’s Instagram account provides a window to Randle’s offseason work. One video shows Randle working out with Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner, who hails from nearby Bedford, Texas. Another footage shows Randle working on his three-point shot. His latest Randle workout video shows the Knicks leader working on his perimeter shot off the dribble.

Last summer, Relph made it their goal to improve Randle’s outside shot as his downhill threat would open up those opportunities. Randle outpaced their goal of 1.5 3s per game as he hit a career-high 2.3 per game on 41 percent. It was a big jump from just one three-pointer on 28 percent shooting during Randle’s first season with the Knicks.

With Walker and Fournier coming in, Randle is expected to see less double or triple-team coverage he frequently commanded last season. His downhill threat and the three-point shot will always be there, and so is his signature corner mid-range jumper. Now, he’s adding a pull-up threat from the top of the key.

Last season, most of Randle’s shots were pull-up jumpers with a frequency rate of 43.4 percent, a big jump from the 20.5 percent rate the year before. His pull-up jump shot accuracy also increased from 35.3 percent to 50.3 percent in his second season with the Knicks.

Next season, Randle wants to improve from 46.3 percent accuracy on his shot after two dribbles and 45.4 percent after three to six dribbles.

“I love the grind and everything. So, I’m enjoying it right now. And I’m looking forward to coming back as a completely better player and help my team win,” Randle said.

His work ethic, as Relph described, is legendary. Randle got it from the late Kobe Bryant, who took Randle under his wings during their time with the Los Angeles Lakers.

”If you have never seen it and you see it for the first time, you’re in shock at how hard this man works. When I think I’ve won, he looks and says, ‘let’s go again’ … Some run to work, others run from it… It’s really that simple,” Relph posted on Twitter.

The Knicks are reaping the reward of that legendary work ethic. In return, they have rewarded Randle by extending him with the maximum offer they can give this offseason and surrounding him with better overall talent than what he enjoyed last season.

Randle repays their trust by continuing to take on the challenge of leading the once laughingstock franchise with another legendary summer grind that hopefully becomes the bedrock of another playoff run for the Knicks.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Top 5 storylines for Knicks preseason games

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To some, it’s just the preseason games. But don’t tell that to the New York Knicks fans who will troop to the Garden and cheer out for their team after spending most of last season cheering from their couch.

The preseason games are not lacking in drama as there are many storylines to be unpacked when the retooled Knicks plunge back into action after a surprising playoff run and a solid offseason.

The Knicks will play four preseason games, three at the Garden in what is expected to be a full capacity crowd in one of the most anticipated seasons in franchise history in a long while.

Knicks Preseason Schedule:

Pacers @ Knicks Oct. 5, 7:30 pm

Knicks @ Wizards Oct. 9, 7:00 pm

Pistons @ Knicks Oct. 13, 7:30 pm

Wizards @ Knicks Oct. 15, 7:30 pm

Let’s take a look at the five most intriguing storylines of the Knicks’ preseason.

First look at reloaded backcourt

Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier will have their Garden debut as a Knick in their preseason opener.

Walker and Fournier arrived with much fanfare and are viewed as upgrades over former starters Elfrid Payton and Reggie Bullock.

It will be interesting to see how Tom Thibodeau will manage Walker, Derrick Rose, and Immanuel Quickley’s minutes.

The One That Got Away

The Knicks reportedly tried to trade up for Oregon star Chris Duarte in the draft. And the Knicks will have the chance to size up the one prospect that got away right in their preseason opener.

Actually, it will be Duarte’s second game against the Knicks, but it will be his first against their entire lineup. Duarte made quite an impression in his Summer League debut in Indiana Pacers’ loss to the Knicks. The 24-year old lived up to his billing as a ready-made 3-and-D player with his solid play on both ends of the court as he came away with a full line: 14 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.

Done with Broadway drama

The Knicks will play two games against the new-look Wizards, who scooped up Spencer Dinwiddie and picked up Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Montrezl Harrell from the Los Angeles Lakers for Russell Westbrook.

Dinwiddie, who essentially replaces Westbrook, had a love and hate relationship with the Knicks fans and media following his exit from crosstown rival Brooklyn Nets.

A segment of the fan base wanted him to be a Knick before Walker came along. New York Post stirred the pot with a report that he wanted no part of it.

Dinwiddie quickly shut down the report as he moves on from the drama in New York for the much laidback atmosphere in the nation’s capital.

Dinwiddie is happy and content that he got his bag in Washington as Bradley Beal’s new backcourt partner. But there will be no love lost for sure when he plays his first game at the Garden following his Nets stint.

MotorCade at the Garden

The top overall pick Cade Cunningham will make his Garden debut when the Detroit Pistons visit New York on Oct. 13.

Cunningham hit seven triples in what came down as his coming out party in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Thibodeau will definitely map out a defensive game plan against the gifted rookie.

Last chance to catch the bus

The preseason games will be Luca Vildoza’s final test before the Knicks decide on his team’s option for the upcoming season. The team has until the opening night whether to keep the Argentine guard or let him go.

After a month of training with the Knicks player development staff, Vildoza had an underwhelming performance in Argentina’s Olympic quest. He went scoreless in the Summer League before he was shut down due to a foot injury.

Veteran guard Dwayne Bacon, who signed an Exhibit 10 deal, is lurking in the background and remains to be the biggest threat to Vildoza.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Kemba Walker and Kevin Durant nearly signed with the Knicks: ‘pretty close’

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Brooklyn Nets, Kevin Durant

Two years ago, Knicks fans were ecstatic about the idea of potentially landing one of the best players in the history of the sport, Kevin Durant. Despite coming off a serious injury, Durant has made a full recovery, earning an All-Star appearance last season with Brooklyn.

Over 35 games, Durrant averaged 27 points, 5.6 assists, 7.1 rebounds, and shot 43.7% from the field. He also connected on 45% of his shots from range, averaging 5.4 attempts per game. As one of the most elite scorers in NBA history, Durant also carried Brooklyn during the postseason, postings several games with 40+ points.

The Knicks could’ve used his prowess and production last season paired with Julius Randle. However, they were forced to take a more developmental route, plugging holes with journeyman players like Alec Burks and hoping that veterans like Derrick Rose could elevate the roster via trade.

The Knicks nearly had it all:

According to Marc Berman of the NY Post, the Knicks were ‘pretty close’ to landing both Kemba Walker and Kevin Durant during the 2019 offseason. Durant obviously chose the more quaint option in Brooklyn, nestling in the outskirts rather than taking on the big city lights of Manhattan.

Walker desperately wanted Durant to join him at MSG, filling the two max contract placements the Knicks had available. Unfortunately, Durant had his eyes set on Brooklyn, an up-and-coming team with a bit more swagger. Since Kyrie Irving decided to take his talents to Brooklyn, Durant quickly agreed on the same choice.

However, Walker evidently ended up with the Knicks on a two-year, $17.9 million deal this off-season. Taking a significant pay cut, Walker is looking to resurrect his career after playing in just 43 games last season due to a degenerative knee issue.

Kemba did average nearly 20 points last season, 4.9 assists, and shot 42% from the field. As a four-time All-Star, Walker is more than capable of leading an offensive playing elite level point guard. It’s just a matter of stay healthy and consistent throughout the entire 82 game season, and the Knicks assisted him with retaining Rose for three years as well.

While the team might not have a player as great as Durant, they have awesome depth with plenty of starting talent. If they can play together and balance out their strengths, there’s no question they can be a solid team that competes with Brooklyn next season.

Knicks’ Kemba Walker gushes over Derrick Rose, ‘he’s such a great dude’

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knicks, new york knicks, derrick rose

The New York Knicks made it a priority to upgrade the point guard spot this off-season, and signing Kemba Walker and retaining Derrick Rose accomplished just that. With two offensive-minded players who can operate as a floor general, the state of the PG spot has changed dramatically in just one off-season.

Just one year ago, the Knicks were rolling out Elfred Payton, Frank Ntilikina and hoping that Immanuel Quickley could provide some support at one of the more important positions on any given team. Now, the challenge will be devising ways to get all of their talent at point guard involved, ranging from Rose to Miles McBride, the team’s 36 overall pick out of West Virginia this year.

However, Walker has tremendous appreciation for D-Rose and what he’s accomplished thus far in his career. Last season, Rose played in 35 games with the Knicks, averaging 15 points, 4.2 assists, and shooting nearly 49% from the field. He connected on a career-high 41% from three-point range, securing a career-high 53% effective field goal percentage.

Having two players who have dealt with injuries in the past on the same team can create problems, but if they split minutes and mitigate fatigue, management can keep them healthy and operating at full strength. Walker did mention how Rose has dealt with a knee injury before, similar to what the former Boston Celtic is currently working through.

However, the veteran mostly gushed over Rose and the player he is after overcoming so much adversity.

“I love D-Rose,” said Walker, per Steve Serby of the NY Post. “I have always been a huge D-Rose fan, man. Just the way he carries himself, he just seemed like such a great dude. Young MVP, got hurt, so many people just talked so bad about him, but he just kept fighting, he kept fighting. Look at him now, he’s right back, and he’s been around for a long time now.”

With Rose averaging 26.8 minutes last season over 50 games of play, Walker will likely see his time on the floor decrease. Nonetheless, he only played in 43 games last season, so if the Knicks can keep both of them fully healthy, they can theoretically split the starting job.

Knicks’ Kemba Walker details ‘fearless’ mentality, raves about RJ Barrett and Julius Randle

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knicks, kemba walker

When the New York Knicks signed point guard Kemba Walker to a two-year contract, they knew he would be bringing in elevated offensive abilities and leadership. Featuring Elfrid Payton as a primary starter last year, the Knicks went into the offseason prioritizing the PG spot.

After retaining Derrick Rose on a three-year contract, the front office didn’t stop there, securing Walker’s services and drafting Miles McBride out of West Virginia with the 36th overall pick.

However, Kemba has the potential to be the difference-maker and catalyst behind a team that simply lacked scoring production during the postseason.

Last year with the Boston Celtics, Walker averaged 19.3 points, 4.9 assists, and shot 42% from the field over 43 games. Having a one-two punch with Rose and Walker should allow the knicks to mitigate fatigue and keep the rotation of point guards fresh.

The veteran spoke of his new team and the mentality he has headed into the 2021-22 season.

In an interview with New York Post’s Steve Serby, Kemba Walker detailed his approach on the court and how he views his new teammates:

“Fearless. There’s nothing I’m scared to do. I’m not afraid of anything on the court.”

Despite having a degenerative left knee, Walker is fighting to get himself prepared for a full regular season. Luckily, the Knicks have built a safety net around him and are not entirely relying on him to play in all 82 games.

Walker mentioned several players on the roster he’s excited about, including RJ Barrett and Julius Randle:

“His toughness, and his growth from the last couple of years into now, I’m just like in awe the way he has grown as a basketball player. I’m looking forward to being out there with him,” Kemba said of Randle.

Speaking on the young Barrett, Walker detailed his growth and come-up from the high school level.

“I’ve just been a fan of him. When he was in high school I saw him play and I saw his highlights and stuff like that, I’ve always been a super-big fan of him. Playing against guys like RJ, the first thing I noticed was how hard he plays, it’s not even the skill. … That’s a real talent, playing hard. So I’m looking forward to just helping those guys a little bit more, teaching them the ropes. Just being a vet.”

There is no question that the roster is full of talent, and pairing Walker with Barrett and Randle should elevate their scoring production. Randle might have to give up some possessions to Walker, who also commands the ball as an offensive threat, but using his physicality inside, Randle can collect more offensive rebounds and provide value in that way.

Last season, Randle averaged 1.2 offensive rebounds per game but posted a high of 2.4 during the 2019-20 season when the Knicks also relied on Marcus Morris. Having alternative threats will allow Randle to sit in the paint and use his strength/boxing out in different ways.

Ultimately, just spreading the floor with more talent will keep defenses on their toes. During the postseason, Atlanta simply double-teamed Julius and took him out of the game, forcing other playmakers to try and compensate for his loss. The Knicks now have several players who can help take attention away from the All-Star power forward and force opposing teams to strategize differently.