2019 New York Knicks Team Awards Selections

TRUEFAN PICKING 2018-19 NBA NEW YORK KNICKS SEASON AWARD SELECTIONS

Written By Kyle Crabbe

Twitter:@KthetruestKnick

-Rookie Of The Year

Winner:

Forward Kevin Knox

Runner Ups:

2^nd Place : Center Mitchell Robinson

3^rd Place : Guard Allonzo Trier

TrueFan Quick Take:

For the 2018-19 New York Knicks, their Rookie of the Year was their 9^th Overall Selection in the 2018 NBA Draft in Forward Kevin Knox. Knox had a good Rookie Season while leading the 2019 Knicks in games played and total minutes. Knox showed his immense potential as the 19 Year Old in his first professional season posted averages of double-figure points per game at 12.8 Points Per Game which per 36 Minutes averages out to a 16.1 Points Average. Knox had ups and downs but his confidence and consistency grew as the season did, giving Knicks fans and basketball fans promise for the Future.

-Sixth Man Of The Year

Winner:

Guard Allonzo Trier 

Runner Ups:

2^nd Place : Center Enes Kanter

3^rd Place : Guard Trey Burke

TrueFan Quick Take:

The 2018-19 New York Knicks 6^th Man of the Year was no other than undrafted Rookie Shooting Guard Allonzo Trier. After slipping in the NBA Draft to becoming available as a free agent for the Knicks to sign, Trier proved he is a lethal scorer, an unmined Basketball Diamond and definitely showed he has a place in the professional ranks for his offensive talents. Trier throughout his rookie season gave the 2018-19 Knicks consistent scoring punch and offensive firepower off the bench. Trier played 64 Games for the Knicks this past season where all his performances came off the bench but just 3 Games that he started for Coach Fizdale. Trier offense was impressive and his statistics show that, while only getting small playing time with a average of 22.8 Minutes per contest, Trier still put up double-digits points per game with a respectable 10.9 Points per game. Trier became New York's very own version of often overlooked 2x NBA 6^th Man of the Year Los Angeles Clippers Guard Lou Williams.

-Most Improved Player

Winner: Power Forward Noah Vonleh

Runner Ups:

2^nd Place : Shooting Guard Damyean Dotson

3^rd Place : Point Guard Emmanuel Mudiay

TrueFan Quick Take:

Quite a few Knicks could be considered for Most Improved player. As we start to look at who had the biggest improvement in their NBA careers we can begin with Shooting Guard Damyean Dotson. In only his second NBA season Dotson was able to double his scoring average from 4.1 to 10.7 ppg, improved his rebounding from 1.9 to 3.6, and even played in the second most games for the Knicks this season with 73 games played(40 Games Starting) while only playing in 44 games(2 Games Starting) in his first season with New York. Dotson showed he can compete on defense while being able to shoot the ball from all over the court.

Another Knick that deserves some light for the strides he made this season past is Forward Noah Vonleh. Vonleh had the best season of his young career and it came with his 4^th Team(Cha, Por, Chi) in his 5^th Season. Compared to his career averages Vonleh took a level up this year and had a career season with the Knicks. His career numbers with those said teams before joining the Knicks this season were 4.7 Points Per Game, 4.9 Rebounds Per Game, 0.3 Blocks Per Game, with a 46 Percent Effective Field Goal Percentage while playing 15 Minutes Per Game. This season with the Knicks Vonleh showed great maturity with posting numbers of 8.4 Points Per Game, 7.8 Rebounds Per Game, with a 52 Percent Effective Field Goal Percentage while playing 25 Minutes Per Game. Vonleh truly took a step forward in his basketball game this year with the Knicks and Coach Fizdale. Vonleh was the Knicks Most Improved Player for their 2018-19 Season.

-Defensive Player Of The Year

Winner:

C Mitchell Robinson

Runner Ups:

2^nd Place Power Forward Noah Vonleh

3^rd Place Shooting Guard Damyean Dotson

TrueFan Quick Take:

Defensive Player of the year for the New York Knicks in 2018-19 was undoubtedly Big Man Center Mitchell Robinson. In his rookie season and even being hindered by a couple injuries Robinson put together a memorable season with blocking opponents shots from all over the basketball court. Robinson lead all rookies in Block Shots and finished the season second in the entire NBA in Blocks per game with an incredible 2.4 shots rejected per contest. Robinson was hailed out of High School as one of the premiere Rim Protectors in a class that also featured shot-blocking big men such as Memphis Grizzlies Jaren Jackson Jr and Orlando Magic's Mo Bamba, but Robinson has separated himself and has surpassed any and all expectations. Robinson was a stalwart for the Knicks all season on defense and his numbers reflect that, as he lead the Knicks in Defensive Rating, Defensive Win Shares and Defensive Box Plus Minus. An award well deserved for an excellent and noteworthy season.

-Teammate Of The Year

Winner:

Shooting Guard Damyean Dotson

Runner Ups:

2^nd Place Guard Frank Ntilikina

3^rd Place Forward/ Point Guard Mario Hezonja

4^th Place Forward Lance Thomas

TrueFan Quick Take:

In a season that saw a lot of downs as the Knicks lost a historic amount of games players like Damyean Dotson came to play and played hard every game. Dotson showcased over the season he would be available and give earnest effort every time he donned the New York Uniform. The 2018-19 New York Knicks teammate of the year has to be Shooting Guard Damyean Dotson. As one of the last players from the Phil Jackson led regime, Dotson is a intelligent team player who's skill set is a throwback to the Jackson preferred basketball players. Dotson is a big guard that would be ideal for the Triangle Offense but could play in any offensive system due to his degree of skills. This season Dotson showed great improvement as he double his points average from his rookie season from 4.1 Points Per Game to this year posting 10.7 Points per contest. Dotson was a reliable player for Coach Fizdale as he played in the second most contests on the team at 73 Games Played while starting 40 game for the Knicks this past season.

-Coach Of The Year

Winner:

Coach Pat Sullivan

Runner Ups:

2^nd Place Head Coach David Fizdale

3^rd Place Coach Royal Ivey

TrueFan Quick Take:

The Coach of the Year for the 2018-19 New York Knicks has to go to assistant coach Pat Sullivan. With a notable assistant coaching history, the former assistant to Larry Brown with Pistons to the last two seasons being an assistant to Doc Rivers with the Los Angeles Clippers. Sullivan, the former North Carolina Tar Heel is credited this season for working directly with Knicks Rookie Phenom Mitchell Robinson. Mitchell Robinson finished the NBA season 2^nd in Blocks and played with great confidence as the year progressed when considering he didn't play organized basketball last year is a excellent accomplishment. Given Robinson's amazing rookie campaign and Sullivan being credited as coaching him up and working directly with him, give Sullivan the nod as 2018-19 Knicks Coach of the Year.

-Most Valuable Player MVP

Winner:

Point Guard Emmanuel Mudiay

Runner Ups:

2^nd Place Center Mitchell Robinson

3^rd Place Shooting Guard Tim Hardaway Jr

TrueFan Quick Take:

The most valuable player for a team is the player that contributes the most to that teams success and is most consistent when that team is successful. For me this season there's are a few players that comes in to play for the 2018-19 New York Knicks. We first must look at Tim Hardaway Jr for coming into the season as the leader and taking up the responsibility of being the team's main player game in and game out. However Hardaway didn't remain with the team for the full season and also didn't elevate his game while in his time this season with New York.

The two main players then I believe that could be up for debate as the 2018-19 New York Knicks Team Most Valuable Player is 1^st Year Center Mitchell Robinson and 2^nd Year Knicks Point Guard Emmanuel Mudiay. Robinson gets strong consideration as the Knicks Most Valuable Player for leading the Knicks in several major statistical categories. Robinson in team ranks finished 1^st in overall Win Shares, 1^st in Offensive Win Shares, 1^st in Defensive Win Shares, 1^st in Blocks, 1^st in Blocks per game, 1^st in Field Goal Percentage, and 1^st in Offensive Rating. Robinson was also absolutely the Knicks best defensive player posting marks such as 1^st in Defensive Rating, 1^st in Defensive Win Shares and 1^st In Defensive Box Plus Minus. Robinson only doesn't win this award due to Mudiay having more of a impact on the wins the Knicks actually did record.

For the 2018-19 New York Knicks no player contributed more to the Knicks biggest recorded victories than former 2015 Lottery Draft Pick Emmanuel Mudiay. Mudiay lead the Knicks in scoring averaging a career best 14.8 points per game. For all players that played at least a 1,000 minutes for this Knicks this season Mudiay proved to be the team's best passer as he lead the team in assists per game, assist percentage, and total assist.

But beyond the stats Mudiay represents everything the Knicks organization tried to prove out this season. For new head coach David Fizdale one of his points to prove this season is that he could tap in to Mudiay's potential and improve the under performing lottery pick. Mudiay also represents new General Manager Scott Perry's first trade-deadline acquisition. As Perry and Fizdale both with President Steve Mills; all have promoted the need to develop talented players and created an environment where young players can flourish and find their confidence and thrive.

Mudiay in one season under coach Fizdale had his best season in the NBA. My last point to Mudiay as Knicks 2018-19 Most Valuable Player is when in comes to actually contributed to real wins this year Mudiay was in the center of them all. During the Knicks only 3 game winning streak in the 2018-19 Season Mudiay started at Point Guard for all three while posting averaging of 23 Minutes Per Game, 16 Points Per Game, 3 Rebounds, 3 Assists. Those games were November 21^st on the road against Boston, November 23^rd at home against the New Orleans Pelicans, and November 25^th on the road against Memphis where Mudiay sealed the late victory with a last minute crucial dunk over Garrett Temple.

In the Knicks Three Biggest Wins this year Mudiay's fingerprints have been all over those rare victories. We have the aforementioned game of the imfamous trip back to Coach David Fizdale former team in Memphis and we have a late season major win against the LeBron James led Lakers in Madison Square Garden March 17^th, where Mudiay helped the Knicks secure the victory with a 28 points and 8 Assists performance. In possibly the Knicks best win all season in a overtime win against the League's Best(record) Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden December 1^st Mudiay again played huge in a 4^th quarter comeback and pushed to get the win in overtime posting a 28 Points 7 Assist stat line.

We can point to other players that garned more fanfare this season or players that have greater potential on the Knicks going forward after this season but there's no debate that attributing everything the 2018-19 NBA Season brought to the New York Knicks, their Most Valuable Player was Point Guard Emmanuel Mudiay.

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