LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 10: Kevin Knox #20 of the New York Knicks dribbles against the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2018 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 10, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) New York Knicks: The quote that tells all about Kevin Knox New York Knicks: The quote that tells all about Kevin Knox by Maxwell Ogden Although they won’t bring home the trophy, the 2018 Summer League was a beautiful showing of all the intriguing young talent the New York Knicks have. With an 82-75 loss to the Boston Celtics in the opening round of elimination play, the New York Knicks didn’t necessarily have the team success they were looking for at the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League. It certainly would’ve been nice to see the team advance further than the first round rather. Instead, New York will be playing in the consolation bracket. Disappointing as that may be, it doesn’t mean the experience was without its fair share of success. In the four games played, various members of the roster flashed immense potential that should have the people of New York drooling at the thought of their future. New York had five players average double figures in scoring, led by the recently drafted Kevin Knox, who put up 21.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. The former Kentucky forward showcased a wide array of tools on the offensive end, ranging from spot-up threes to thunderous throwdowns that are sure to rock the Garden crowd in due time. Knox has been so productive that he’s sparked an internal struggle among NBA Twitter users who are trying to manage their expectations for the soon to be 19-year-old. Kevin Knox is a bad, bad man. pic.twitter.com/POfi0D7GLR — Jake Bourke (@JakeBourke) July 11, 2018 Frank Ntilikina may have only played in two Summer League games, but on top of his usual prowess on the defensive end, the former eighth overall selection exuded a heightened level of aggression and confidence on offense that was unseen during his rookie year. Against the Utah Jazz, Ntilikina scored 17 points on 14 shots, firing without hesitation from beyond the arc and attacking the basket in a way that would make Russell Westbrook smile. Then there’s Mitchell Robinson, a second-round pick in the 2018 NBA Draft who many have already earned the label of a diamond in the rough whom the Knicks unearthed. Although he hadn’t played organized basketball in over a year, Robinson showed why he may very well be the steal of the draft, showcasing an impressive blend of athleticism and shot-blocking instincts. He still has plenty to work on in order to become an every day rotation piece, but averages of 12.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks per game are as good a starting point as any for a guy ESPN commentator Fran Fraschilla said would’ve been a top 10 pick had he gone to college. Fran Fraschilla on Mitchell Robinson: “If he went to college, he would have been a top-5, top-10 pick” in the 2018 draft. — Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) July 12, 2018 With all the heartbreak and suffering that Knicks fans have had to endure for God knows how long, it’s become increasingly difficult to attach oneself to anything that resembles success for fear it will be ruined by the the front office or injury. Despite the constant let downs, there’s something different about this group of youngsters. They already represesnt a level of hard work and dedication that bordered on being nonexistent in years past. Going to be a ton of teams who'll regret not gambling on Mitchell Robinson — Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) July 9, 2018 There’s still plenty of time until the new season kicks off in mid-October, but until then, the MSG faithful can rejoice in knowing their team has plenty to look forward to. The New York Knicks have a future to be excited about after the team’s performance in Las Vegas.<doc-sep>Garrett Ellwood/Getty Images An otherwise great showing in the 2018 NBA Summer League ended in disappointing fashion for Kevin Knox and the New York Knicks. The Boston Celtics earned an 82-75 victory Thursday to advance to the second round of the Las Vegas bracket, thus knocking the Knicks out of the competition. Knox scored 15 points on 5-of-20 shooting. Although he struggled to find his stroke, the No. 9 overall pick continued to show he can attack the basket: Knox also had four rebounds and three assists, and Knicks fans have reason for excitement ahead of his rookie season, as NBA Front Office's Keith Smith noted: Fellow rookie Mitchell Robinson played a starring role in a losing effort, scoring 17 points with 12 rebounds and six blocks. Semi Ojeleye led all scorers with 21 points and was the biggest reason the Celtics held Knox in check. Ojeleye matched up against the top-10 pick on defense and made life miserable for the former Kentucky Wildcats star. Jabari Bird also had a double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds) for Boston. Video Play Button Videos you might like With the victory, the Celtics will meet the Miami Heat in the next round. Miami beat the New Orleans Pelicans 110-106 in Thursday's first game.<doc-sep>Irving, who will be the Knicks’ free-agent target a year from now, sat courtside and witnessed five turnovers from Knox and 10 missed shots on 15 attempts. His feats of athleticism in Summer League, while utterly impressive, also have to be measured by Knox’s carelessness with the ball. He has 16 turnovers in four games while shooting just 37 percent.<doc-sep>
While much of the talk surrounding the Knicks this summer has been about first-round pick Kevin Knox, it was the team’s second-round pick who stood out on Thursday. Mitchell Robinson had 17 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks in the Knicks’ 82-75 loss to Boston in a Las Vegas Summer League first-round playoff game. The 7-1 Robinson, who did not play basketball in college, was selected 36th overall by the Knicks in this year’s draft. Knox, who entered the game tied for second in Summer League play at 23.3 points per game, finished with 20 points but shot only 5-for-20 from the field. He had four rebounds, three assists and five turnovers. Allonzo Trier, an undrafted free agent out of Arizona, added 17 points, four rebounds and four assists. Semi Ojeleye had 21 points and six rebounds for Boston (3-1), which led by as many as 21 points in the third quarter. The Knicks (1-3) closed within 74-70 with about three minutes remaining in the game, but the Celtics scored 12 of the game’s final 17 points. Jabari Bird added 13 points and 10 rebounds for Boston, which will face Miami in a second-round game at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Subscribe to Newsday’s sports newsletter Receive stories, photos and videos about your favorite New York teams plus national sports news and events. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy. Musa signs with Nets Dzanan Musa, who was selected by the Nets with the No. 29 pick in the NBA Draft, became the last of 30 first-round picks to sign his rookie contract, the team announced Thursday. Based on the rookie scale, which has a degree of flexibility, Musa’s four-year deal likely starts at $1.63 million and totals $9.15 million, but only the first two years are guaranteed. Before the deal could be signed by Musa, who is in Las Vegas working out with the Nets’ Summer League team, the buyout with his European club team, Cedevita Zagreb of Croatia A1, had to be completed. Musa is a 6-9 wing from Bosnia and Herzegovina who averaged 13.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals in 23.5 minutes per game last season. He was named MVP of the U16 European Championship in 2015 after leading Bosnia to its first FIBA title.