The New York Knicks are a few games into the season, but there are draft prospects that Knicks fans should start getting familiar with.
On some level, it’s pure sacrilege to write about the upcoming NBA draft if you’re a Knicks fan. After all, the team blew away last season’s expectations, made the playoffs for the first time in eight years, and continues to excite fans with their new and high-powered offense.
But this is different. Fans are not bookmarking Tankathon or refreshing their favorite draft scout’s youtube channel on a daily basis. Ping pong balls no longer hold a cruel grip on the hopes for a better future, that time is now. The draft is now akin to that 3rd or 4th plate at the buffet; building on what you already have in the stomach/locker room.
With that said, over the next few months, I’ll be writing draft-related pieces that are targeting players within the estimated range for the orange and blue. According to Vegas, the Knicks’ pre-season over/under was set at 41.5 placing them at the 16th in next year’s draft. From that point, I searched numerous “way too early” 2021-2022 mock drafts and came up with 22 players that could be targeted for the Knicks come June.
The college basketball season starts in less than a week, so I’m sure the names on that list will change. Here is the first installment of “Three names to watch out for”.
Nikola Jovic – Forward, KK Mega Bemax, Serbia
Nikola Jovic is an 18-year old, six-foot-ten, 200 plus-pound skilled-forward, who plays for Mega Bemax in the ABA. The first thing that stands about Jovic is his ability to move on the court. What Jovic lacks in foot speed, he makes up for with craft, definitive movements, and a keen awareness of his body in relation to the other players on the court. He also impresses in fast-break situations where he possesses the vision to hit cutters or make outlet passes with great accuracy. Even in the half-court, Jovic’s vision is a mainstay of an already impressive skillset.
This past season, Jovic only played four games with Mega Bemax. Despite the small sample size, in just under 25 minutes per game, Jovic averaged 11.8 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, and shot over 55 percent from the field, and 40 percent shooting from the three-point line. The 18-year old also shot a respectable 75 percent from the free-throw line.
The slightly bigger and more recent sample size lies within his performance, during this past summer’s World Cup U-19 tournament. Jovic showed out for his native country of Serbia. He demonstrated confidence, operated well in the mid-post, moved well without the ball, hit some really tough shots, and even hit an impressive step-back three to ice a game versus Japan. In six games Jovic averaged just over 18 points per game, shot 36 percent from three, and 49 percent from the field. However, his efficiency from the free-throw line wasn’t great as he shot just 65 percent from the stripe. Still, hard to look past this beauty.
However, if we zoom out a bit further, Jovic’s shooting is clearly inconsistent and will be a huge swing skill for him going forward. He played in four different leagues during the 2021 season, and shot about 26 percent from three-point range. Furthermore, early returns from a young 2021-2022 season have not been great. In his first six games, Jovic is averaging under 10 points per game and shooting 28 percent from three, 37 percent overall, from the field.
Personally, I buy the mechanics and believe that his efficiency will improve as his body develops. If he can improve in those areas, we could be looking at the latest player from Serbia to have a major impact in the NBA.
Benedict Mathurin – Guard, Arizona
Benedict Mathurin might be my favorite player on this shortlist. Mathurin has decent size. A six-foot-six, 195 pound guard with a six-foot-six plus wingspan, Mathurin is a smooth player with good offensive skills and he might just be a budding playmaker. As a freshman, Mathurin finished the season averaging over 10 points per game, shot 47 percent from the field, and over 41 percent from the three-point line.
Coming out of high school Mathurin was ranked 128th in the country, and it seems that exceeding expectations is Mathurin’s calling card. The 18-year old Montreal-native broke into the Wildcat’s starting lineup due to a teammate’s injury, and once he did, he didn’t disappoint. Last season, Mathurin dropped 31 points against Oregon State in an impressive offensive onslaught.
At one point during the season, Mathurin was ranked second in box-plus-minus, amongst all freshmen, trailing only USC’s Evan Mobley. Mathurin scored in double-digits in 16 of 25 games during the 2020-2021 season and hit at least 40 percent of his three-point attempts in 13 of those contests. Off the court, Mathurin, a product of Mexico’s NBA Academy had already experienced a top-flight development program that focuses on nutrition, education, health and wellness, and academics before the age of 18. He’s not your average college sophomore.
Overall, Mathurin presents as an exciting prospect that will feature heavily for an Arizona squad ranked 29th in most preseason polls. He really has the chance to really move up draft boards, and my bet is that he will do just that.
Roko Prkacin – Forward, KK Cibona, Croatia
Knicks fans, and pretty much anyone else who scouted last year’s draft, should know the name Roko Prkacin. According to Jonathan Givony, Prkacin, who was rated 36th on ESPN’s top 100 prospects, in somewhat of a surprise, withdrew his name from draft considerations in mid-July.
Playing in the Adriatic League for KK Cibona, Prkacin averaged just over 13 points per game and shot just under 40 percent from the three-point line. At just 18 years old, and at six-foot-nine, Prkacin possesses a versatile skillset and standout offensive potential at the forward position. As Adam Spinella’s video breakdown shows, Prkacin is entertaining in the fast break, can handle like a guard, and is not afraid to finish through contact.
Prkacin is not an eye-popping athlete, but he can elevate well for his size and has the ability to navigate through tight spaces when he gets close to the basket. Like any young player, Prkacin still needs to improve his defense and decision-making, but the talent is there. During his first six games of the 2021-2022 season, Prkacin has averaged a modest 11.2 points per game and has shot just over 35 percent from three. Additionally, free-throw shooting is another area of concern, as the Croatian has never shot above 70 percent during his international career.
Of course, Knicks fans will have both eyes firmly on the orange and blue during the regular season, however, these three prospects deserve a look or two especially considering their ages and skillsets. The Knicks also have an abundance of tradeable contracts, should the front office decide to swing for the fences and bring in the NBA’s next disgruntled star. If that happens, the organization will undoubtedly need to re-stock the cupboard with new young talent. Prkacin, Jovic, and Mathurin are just some of the names to know this season.
Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors and recaps throughout the 2021-22 season! And in case you missed it, catch CP The Franchise’s recent appearance on WFAN with Moose and Maggie below:
