Kevin Knox Knows Minutes Won't Come Easy Next Season

Former Kentucky forward Kevin Knox is about to enter his second NBA season with the New York Knicks, however, under completely different circumstances from his rookie year. No, he won't be playing behind Kevin Durant or setting screens for Kyrie Irving. He won't be contending for an NBA championship like many Knicks fans had (naively) hoped. But he is going to play with a much, much-improved roster. The Knicks can fight for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference this season after several two-year contracts doled out to Bobby Portis (forward), Elfrid Payton (guard), Wayne Ellington (guard), Taj Gibson (forward), Reggie Bullock (guard), and a three-year deal with Julius Randle, another forward. Most recently, forward Marcus Morris backed out of a two-year deal with the San Antonio Spurs to accept a one-year deal with the Knicks for more money. Morris is a productive role player and it will be hard to justify playing Knox over guys like Morris, Randle, Portis, and Gibson. Knox has the most potential among the group of Knick forwards, but he's the furthest behind. In an article by Marc Berman of the New York Post, Knox acknowledged that fighting for minutes this season will be a real thing. “We’re going to have to earn our minutes and fight for playing time on the court,” Knox said. “Training camp is going to be brutal. I know I got to earn my minutes this year because we brought in a lot of great guys.” Knox's struggles as a rookie have been well-documented. He shot 37 percent from the field while playing nearly 29 minutes per game. Heading into the NBA Summer League, Knox said he feels more confident going into his second season. He repeated that sentiment again. “I felt different,’’ Knox said in the same article with the New York Post. “I probably didn’t put up the numbers I did last year or have all the highlights. But I was feeling more comfortable, confident, dribbling the basketball, shooting the ball. I feel a lot stronger out there. I feel I had a really good summer and feel better going into the season this year.’’ Knox's Summer League ended after four games, where he averaged 17.3 points per game, but on 41 percent shooting from the field. Minutes aren't going to come easy for Knox next season. He'll have to earn every one of them against players that have the edge over him right now.