These tough times recently have left the world without live sports. We can only go so long off replays of the top moments in NBA history, where we can predict every moment up to the color commentary.
During this hiatus, both players and fans have turned to video games, specifically NBA 2k, to heal the wounds left by the absence of their beloved sport. 2k has organized a player tournament where fans can tune in to watch their favorite players compete on the virtual hardwood where the winner’s prize money — $100,000 — goes to a charity in support of coronavirus relief efforts. In the spirit of 2k’s importance during quarantine, this article will explore the stats of New York Knicks players, past and present, and see how well they match up to their real-life play.
2020 Knicks Starting Five
R.J. Barrett (77 overall)
The third-overall pick got the third-highest 2k rating for a rookie in MyTeam at the time of the game’s release. Coming out of Duke, Barrett was tagged as a shifty lefty, with a good mid-range pull up and the ability to get to the hoop on command.
90 Shot IQ – Barrett displayed his shot-creating abilities early in the season. With the ball in his hands, each possession would usually end in a smart, open shot. His effective mid-range jumper paved the way to his 43.2% 2-point field goal percentage. Although he was not a prolific scorer, his steady contribution of an average 14.3 points per game made him a valuable piece for the Knicks to build around in the future.
62 Defending – This stat on Barrett’s card is the only one I will point out that 2k got wrong. When paired together, the electric backcourt of Barrett and Frank Ntilikina was one of the best young defensive guard tandems in the NBA. With each player averaging one steal per game, Barrett himself contributed to 19.3% of the Knicks’ steals this season. Barrett’s quick hands and ability to defend bigger guards makes this rating a poor representation of his defensive ability.
Elfrid Payton (75 overall)
Elfrid Payton was a solid free-agent pickup for the Knicks this past season. He played most of the season at guard alongside Barrett, starting about half the games the Knicks played. Payton was a good playmaker and provided a steady presence to show Barrett the ropes.
83 Ball Handling – Coming up the court, the Knicks often entrusted the ball in the hands of Payton. Rightfully so, I might add, as he had much more experience than Barrett did. Shifty dribbling moves to get shots around the rim and clever crossovers to create space from the elbow were his specialty. Using these handles, Payton was also a great distributor, averaging 7.2 assists per game.
72 Shot Mid – A rating of 72 is a bit on the average side in any category. However, Payton kept his shot attempts to a minimum and was more of a facilitator for the Knicks. Yet, when he did shoot he was quite efficient with a 43.9% field goal percentage. Also, Payton only averaged 1.5 three-point attempts per game, so he limited shots from beyond the arc to work toward smarter shots from mid-range.
Julius Randle (81 overall)
Julius Randle was the Knicks’ highlight player this season. After signing Randle to a three-year, $63 million deal in the offseason, expectations were high for the forward. Randle’s mix of size and speed gave the Knicks a versatile asset to grab boards and run the floor.
81 Shot close – Randle was a consistent paint player in the Knicks’ half-court offense. 57% of his shots were within 10 feet of the hoop, which resulted in a 51% 2-point field goal percentage. He was also a fierce dunker, responsible for countless highlight plays on the season. This made him one of the most fun Knicks players to watch.
91 Hustle – Randle is among a select few big men in the NBA that can run the floor like a wing player. He uses his size and speed to ignite fast-breaks for easy buckets. Also, he started every game the Knicks played (besides two games he missed due to family matters). Durability and hustle like this are a rarity in the NBA, so the Knicks are lucky to have him.
Maurice Harkless (73 overall)
Maurice Harkless was a late-season addition to the Knicks. Harkless came over to New York packaged with picks in the Marcus Morris trade right before the deadline. Although he is a worse scorer than Morris, his role on the team did not lack significance. Harkless often played deep into games at the same level that he started the game.
74 Perimeter defense – We didn’t get to see a lot from Harkless on the Knicks this season, but the main reason he came in and started right away was his solid perimeter defense. Having to line up on the wing every night against some of the best forwards in the game was a challenge that he was more than ready for. This rating should be boosted to at least an 80 for next year’s game.
78 Driving dunk – Another big part of Harkless’s game is his fearless driving abilities. Night in and night out he made highlight plays flying down the lane and throwing down monster jams. I think that he could be a sneaky addition to the dunk contest next year, adding some power to the lineup.
Mitchell Robinson (78 overall)
Last in the starting lineup is the young, rising star Mitchell Robinson. Robinson continued to show his defensive prowess and paint presence, averaging over two blocks per game again this season. Robinson’s offensive role also grew throughout the season, ignited by the firing of head coach David Fizdale.
83 Standing dunk – Robinson is a force down low. He is turning back the clock with his conventional style of play where he never shoots threes and has only taken one shot beyond 10 feet. Using his 7-foot frame, he backs down defenders with the goal of slamming it right on their head. The result? Two points and a confused defense that can’t find an answer. Robinson should continue to have a great offensive trajectory in the coming years.
95 Shot contest – Robinson’s frame and style of play lend themselves to the role of paint protector. His shot-blocking prowess is what he is mainly known for over his first two seasons in the NBA. He ranks seventh in blocks with 2.0 per game. Overall, this 95 shot contest rating puts him alongside the best centers in 2k in this category, which is much deserved.
Nostalgic Knicks Players
‘12 Carmelo Anthony (97 overall)
Carmelo Anthony is the best New York Knicks player of the last decade. During his tenure, he brought the Knicks to the playoffs three times, setting a multitude of scoring records and creating a legend for himself in New York. Anthony was beloved by all Knicks fans and one of the NBA’s biggest stars during his time with the team.
94 Outside Scoring – Anthony is one of the most prolific outside scorers in Knicks history. This card is a throwback card based off of his 2012-2013 season where he averaged 28.7 points per game and shot 38% from beyond the arc. He was basically automatic from anywhere on the court and required individual attention from some of the league’s best defenders. There is no arguing that Anthony was among the brightest stars in the NBA at this time, and his ability to score at will from outside was a big part of it.
93 Lateral Quickness – People underestimated Anthony’s speed. At 6’8”, 240 pounds, most would overlook his ability to swiftly get to the basket. His signature move, though – the jab step on the wing- allowed him to slide by defenders with ease and either create space for a mid-range jumper or get to the basket for an easy dunk.
‘11 Steve Novak (85 overall)
Steve Novak was a staple among the New York Knicks’ three-point arsenal. Although Novak was not a starter with the Knicks, his immediate-impact style of play made him a valuable asset in those seasons where the Knicks fought for a playoff spot. Today, a lights out shooter from beyond the arc like Novak is something that Knicks fans long for in these trying times.
96 Three-point shot – Of course this stat needed to be included. At an 85 overall, Novak has a plethora of average 80-87 stats across the board, but his three-pointer stands out. In the 2011-2012 season, Novak shot an unbelievable 47% from beyond the arc, and attempted five threes per game compared to only one two-point shot. In his time with the Knicks, many put him up in the ranks with Stephen Curry as a great fundamental, knockdown three-point shooter.
85 Passing IQ – Novak did not only contribute to the Knicks with his three-point abilities, though. At the time, the Knicks’ gameplan revolved around threes, so Novak, when covered, would often have to swing the ball around the arc to the next open man. However, he also frequently made that extra pass to an open man in the paint which threw off the defense from the telegraphed plan. For a shooter, a complementary feature like smart passing makes you a more valuable asset to a franchise.
‘10 Amar’e Stoudemire (89 overall)
Amar’e Stoudemire was an amazing conventional big man. Before the age of stretch fives, Stoudemire ruled the paint on both ends of the floor. Teaming up with Tyson Chandler down low, the tandem played an integral role in the Knicks’ many playoff runs in the 2010s.
85 Inside Scoring – In the 2010-2011 season, Stoudemire averaged 25.3 points with the Knicks, the highest mark of his tenure in New York. On shots from inside the paint in that season, Stoudemire had a 53% shooting percentage, with two-thirds of his points coming from there too. His paint presence was unmatched in his prime and very few defenders could stop him from scoring inside.
80 Strength – This rating is fitting for his frame and style of play. Although Stoudemire was a force down low, he was never really considered a bully in the paint. He definitely used his size to back down defenders but was equipped with many post moves to finesse his way to the rack. All in all, Stoudemire is given the credit he deserves in terms of strength with an 80 rating.
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