Should Brandon Knight Be An All-Star Reserve?
This year, Brandon Knight has been arguably the Milwaukee Bucks’ best player.
The young Buck hasn’t been producing the gaudy numbers that would capture national media attention as well as All-Star consideration. Averaging 18 ppg, 5.1 apg, and 4.2 rpg are not necessarily All-Star numbers by the standards of the fan vote.
We know that guys like Carmelo Anthony and Lebron James will take in the votes, and rightfully so. Their numbers are up there with the NBA league leaders, as are the other Eastern Conference All-Stars: Kyle Lowry, John Wall, and Pau Gasol. These players compete for winning teams, and have struck a chord and really found their niche as some of the best players in the league.
But where does that leave Brandon Knight? Should his increased prowess as a point guard keep him in the argument for a reserve role?
There are another seven spots open in the Eastern Conference, and lets assume that out of the spots, at the maximum, two will be slotted for point guards. That might be me being generous, but for arguments’ sake, lets assume that.
Now, out of all the qualified point guards who could potentially fill those two spots, lets narrow the window down to a field of four. These point guards are Kemba Walker, Jeff Teague, Kyrie Irving, and Brandon Knight.
All these guards are in the top 7 in ESPN’s John Hollinger’s advanced statistical breakdown of the Eastern Conference point guards. I left out Brandon Jennings because he recently suffered a season ending injury, and despite his recent onslaught of basketball beauty, he played too long for a losing team.
I would like to think that the coaches choosing the last players for the bench will not only take into account statistical accomplishments, but also the team the player plays for. If the player’s team is a losing team, then he shouldn’t be given the same consideration.
This reasoning (along with his own recent injury) will then exclude Kemba Walker, whose improvement will be marred by his team’s standing when compared to the other candidates.
This now leaves us with Irving, Teague, and Knight.
You wouldn’t be foolish to think that Kyrie Irving should be an All-Star. He was the MVP of last year’s game for all of those who forgot. Not only that, but the dude is a top-15 scorer, and a human highlight reel. His value exceeds that of many other players because he can create the excitement that the All-Star game needs. His ability to generate plays with creativity and finesse should land him a bench seat this February.
So, in one corner, we have Jeff Teague. Teague is the orchestrator of the Hawks historic run. Under his leadership, the Hawks have won 29 out of the last 31 games. To his credit, Teague has developed his game every year and as he has become a more versatile scorer, averaging 17.1 ppg, his leadership skills have made him one of the Hawks most valuable assets.
His efficiency rating measures at a 19.5, which is well above Knights score of 17.3. Teague has become fearless when driving the lane, and his quickness and speed are threats that teams have not been able to contain this year.
Here is where Brandon Knight takes home my vote for All-Star reserve though. Teague is the maestro of Hawks, but he has better players around him. Any night that Teague is off, he has the comfort knowing that Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap, and Al Horford can put the team on their back. The success of the whole comes from many parts when you talk about the Hawks.
However, Brandon Knight is the best player on the Milwaukee Bucks squad. He is leads the team in minutes played and in scoring. His PER rating is also the highest on the team. Knight, day in and day out, is heavily relied on to produce for a young Bucks team. His statistical performance is one of the main reasons why the Bucks are currently in the playoff race, a place where many people were not expecting them to be.
According to ESPN’S Marc Stein, Knight is only one of eight players in the league to be averaging 18 ppg, 5 apg, and 2 rpg. These numbers put him next to guys like Russell Westbrook and James Harden, who are not only All-Star level talents, but some of the NBA’s finest players. Knight has clearly defined himself not only as a team leader, but one of the brightest young players the league has to offer.
So, Brandon Knight figures to at least be a conversation starter when we talk about the All-Star game. Does his team’s reliance on him, and his ability to produce at a high level make him an All-Star? Or does he not possess the attributes that All-Star games look for? Does the fact that he plays for a small market team that does not get regular TV air time hurt him?
All of these are valid questions. Brandon Knight may very well be overlooked for a flashy Jeff Teague who plays on a better team.
But Brandon Knight has carried a once dismal franchise into a brighter future, and his numbers show vast improvement. It’s been a while since Milwaukee has seen talent of his level.
Perhaps, then, the league should take a closer look at him.