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Myck Kabongo is hoping to hear his name called by the Knicks sometime during the June 27 NBA Draft.
(Brian Spurlock/USA Today Sports)
Now that Jason Kidd has gone from donning a jersey to wearing a suit in less than a week, and Pablo Prigioni is still weighing his options, there's suddenly a big void behind starting point guard Raymond Felton.
The Knicks will likely look to remedy that situation during the June 27 NBA Draft, either with their No. 24 pick or perhaps by buying back into the second round, since they currently don't have a second-round pick.
Should they look at point guard with their pick, there's one guy who said he's anxious to come in and try to fill the considerably large role of the first lead guard off Mike Woodson's bench -- former Texas Longhorns star Myck Kabongo.
Kabongo, whose first name is pronounced like "Mike," is a Toronto native whose unique spelling rivals his unique speed. The sinewy point guard is as quick as any player with the ball currently in the league and feels like he can actually raise the competitive nature of a veteran-laden Knicks' team that must know their window for winning is closing quickly.
"I'll definitely bring a competitive nature because I'm a competitive guy. I love competing every day," said Kabongo at the Knicks' facilities after a recent workout. "I can change speeds that can very much affect the game at this level ... [and] once I learn from the great coaches and players at this level, I'll be even better."
Kabongo, projected as a late first-round or early second-round prospect, is a pass-first lead guard who has the ability to score, much like Felton. He averaged 14.6 points, 5.5 assists, and 5 rebounds per game as a sophomore last season, despite missing 23 games due to an NCAA-sanctioned suspension.
The 6-foot-1 guard was big enough to finally admit his mistake -- he apparently wasn't forthcoming to the NCAA on two separate occasions when he denied accepting airfare and personal training instruction with a trainer who was hired by an NBA agent -- and is ready to move on from the incident. His mea culpa was just another step in his maturity, as the incoming rookie said he's now looking to do whatever he can to show he belongs on a roster that is brimming with experience.
Kabongo added that while he's disappointed he'll never get to call Kidd a peer or teammate, he'll settle for trying to fill his shoes.
"My eyes teared up," he joked when asked if he wanted to be able to call Kidd a teammate. "But what J.Kidd did for the league and for his position ... amazing. The things that he's done in 19-something years, it's sad [to see him retire], but at the same time it's an opportunity."