While starring in Santa Cruz, Knox knows he still belongs in NBA

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While starring in Santa Cruz, Knox knows he still belongs in NBA originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – One step, two step, three step, four. Kevin Knox settles, looking like he’s ready to launch another corner 3-pointer. He slowly crosses his body with his left foot, sees the screen being set for him and explodes forward to catch a pass in motion.

Knox has a head of steam on the defender who tries to switch onto him. All he needs is two dribbles to get to the basket and finish a right-handed layup, giving him 35 points on the night to put the Santa Cruz Warriors ahead by one point with a little more than a minute left in the game. The two points force a timeout from the Salt Lake City Stars.

As Sea Dubs fans roar, Knox tightens his arm muscles and yells out in elation. He has the crowd completely under his control. Watching the moment in real time right behind the Santa Cruz bench it’s impossible not to wonder what’s going through Knox’s head.

How did he get here playing in front of a rocking attendance of 2,476 fans at Kaiser Permanente Arena instead of a sold out Madison Square Garden? Why is the former No. 9 pick selected by the New York Knicks in the 2018 NBA Draft even playing in the G League as someone who has spent six years in the NBA, but not a single game this season?

“It’s a mixture of a lot of things,” Knox told NBC Sports Bay Area in an exclusive interview two hours prior to tipoff. “Personally, I’d say it’s my fault being down here. A lot of guys don’t take the blame for situations like this, but for me, personally, I take the blame for a lot of stuff.

“If I perform better and play better up top, I won’t be here. Being down here, I don’t really take it as a demotion or anything. I take it as you come down here to learn, and learn under a great system. Work on things you need to work on.”

Knox played 31 games for the Detroit Pistons last season, and even made 11 starts. But he was traded to the Utah Jazz the day of the NBA trade deadline and waived the next day. Knox could have gone home, stayed there and counted his money. He already had made…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/while-starring-santa-cruz-knox-140259261.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2025-01-30 14:02:00

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