If the title doesn't give it away, the remainder of the article will. The Knicks are still where they were for the past few years or so.
I don't like saying this out loud but the Knicks are and have been in a bad spot for the past few years. Bad draft picks, lob-sided trades and no big free agent signings has had the Knicks in the last few spots not just in their conference but in the entire league.
The last time the Knicks had a good draft pick was when they had drafted Kristaps Porzingis and even then the Knicks fans were extremely disappointed with the draft pick. Eventually Porzingis turned into a star caliber player and could've been someone you could mold the franchise around but was traded away to the Dallas Mavericks for Dennis Smith Jr.
Currently the Knicks don't have star power at all. The only bright light in what will be a rather dark future for the Knicks is their latest rookie, RJ Barrett, a player who has the ability to initiate offense as soon as he has the ball. Another rookie to keep an eye on is Kevin Knox II. A slasher who can space the floor with his three point shooting and athletic enough to finish at the rim.
The last time there was any limelight in Madison Square Garden was when the Knicks had Carmelo Anthony & Amare Stoudamire. Anthony was a scoring machine and Stoudamire was a beast in the paint but I guess it's the New York curse that hasn't been lifted since the Walt Frazier era. That's right. I'm going back till the Frazier era. Even Patrick Ewing and the Knicks made the playoffs in the 90's but lost in the final matches to Jordan & the Bulls and Hakeem & the Houston Rockets.
There was another spark amongst New York called Linsanity. It was a player who was slept upon by many and turned out to be a spark generator which was exactly what was needed then for the Knicks. It was none other than Jeremy Lin. Linsanity went on for quite a while and it really took over the entire NBA. Because anything big that happens in the Garden, explodes big. But I guess the curse was too strong as Linsanity died out and Jeremy Lin was then traded to the Houston Rockets.
New York was once a hotspot for players to be a part of and play their home games in Madison Square Garden but that has changed drastically as many free agents declined joining forces in New York and went over to New Jersey instead.
The Knicks are going to struggle until and unless they make some big roster changes with some big trades and free agent signings. Until they do so, don't expect the Knicks to make the playoffs anytime soon. Let's hope RJ Barrett & Kevin Knox II evolve into a star players that can carry the team to victory on a nightly basis.
Video: RJ Barrett: A new light in MSG
Current Superstar - None.
Past Superstars - Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudamire, Kristaps Porzingis.
Past Legends - Walt Frazier, Patrick Ewing, Willis Reed, Richie Guerin.
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