The one thing you can’t accuse rookie lottery pick Kevin Knox of is helping the Knicks win.
While his scoring statistics aren’t poor for a rookie despite shooting 37 percent, his entry into the starting lineup has not worked. And now he appears to have slammed into the rookie wall, shooting 24.3 percent in his past five games (13-of-51).
Knox was an invisible 2-for-6 from the field for four points, zero assists and two turnovers in 22 minutes Sunday against Miami. In his 23 starts, the Knicks are 1-22 — the lone victory coming Jan. 4 against the Lakers in which Knox was key in the win.
“He’s hit a little wall here,’’ Fizdale said after Sunday’s 106-97 loss to the Heat. “That’s about right for some guys — ups and downs. He’s gone from rookie of the month to figuring out how to sustain and get it back. The seasons get long for these young guys. We’ll get him back.’’
On Friday against the Nets, Knox shot just 2-of-11. There are some scouts who don’t feel his offensive talents are being put to good use — often standing in the corner waiting for a pass. At summer league, Knox had more off a point guard/forward role at the head of the key where initiated penetration.
“He missed some great looks — six, seven open shots he will normally make,’’ Fizdale said of Knox’s game Friday against the Nets.
Knox, who will likely be named to All-Star Weekend’s Rookie-Sophomore Game on Tuesday based on his 12.2 scoring average, got his first starts during a November road trip to Oklahoma City, New Orleans and Orlando in which the Knicks were 0-3.
Knox came out of the starting lineup for Mario Hezonja and didn’t return there until a game in Cleveland on Dec. 11 when the Knicks were routed. He has now started 20 straight games and the Knicks are 1-19. Defensively, Knox is not where he needs to be — even for a 19-year-old rookie — and his overall plus-minus is near the league’s bottom.
He put up big scoring numbers in December, but also played a lot of minutes. He averaged 17.1 points to win Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month. In one stretch spanning December and January, he played 35-plus minutes in 12 out of 13 contests. That appears to have wiped him out, along with the rough recent road schedule.
Before Knox was placed back into the starting lineup, Fizdale started the same starting five of Emmanuel Mudiay, Tim Hardaway Jr., Hezonja, Noah Vonleh and Enes Kanter for 11 straight games. That combination was 4-7, which looks like gold compared to the Knicks’ current tumble off the cliff.
Dwyane Wade had kind words for Fizdale as they were together during the Miami Dream Team glory days.
“You didn’t think they’d struggle this year?’’ Wade said. “When he took the job, he knew it would take time to put the right personnel around and implement his system. Unfortunately for New York fans, you got to have patience. And I know New York fans usually don’t have patience.’’
All is well with potential high lottery pick, Murray State sophomore point guard Ja Morant. In a game Thursday that was attended by 40 NBA scouts, Morant injured his ankle in the opening minutes and labored the rest of the way in a rare loss to conference-power Belmont. Morant scored 20 points on just 5-of-19 shooting with five turnovers.
On Saturday against Tennessee State, Morant was back to his sizzling self with 24 points and nine assists in 29 minutes as Murray State cruised. Knicks president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry have yet to see Morant live but will do so before the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. The Knicks had two scouts at the Murray State-Belmont showdown. Celtics president Danny Ainge and Charlotte’s Mitch Kupchak were on hand.