Westchester Knicks: Recap of 2018

It’s been an eventful year for the Westchester Knicks. The team went 31-18 and made the postseason for the second time. 27 players suited up in Westchester, which included eight returners and four two-way players. The team saw three players earn a combined five call-ups and head coach Mike Miller earn the 2017-18 G League Coach of the Year.

Damyean Dotson and Luke Kornet were assigned to Westchester, along with Kenrich Williams coming from the New Orleans Pelicans on flex assignment. The team’s first two-way players, Isaiah Hicks and Kornet, made their NBA debut on February 8 against the Toronto Raptors. Kornet signed a one-year deal with New York, while Hicks returned to the club on a second two-way deal. Washington Wizards two-way player Devin Robinson and New Orleans Pelicans two-way player Trevon Bluiett suited up in the Dub Knicks’ blue and orange on flex assignment from their NBA teams.

Despite starting off the year with a loss, Westchester rebounded and picked up seven wins in January. The Knicks split their two games at the G League Showcase in Canada. Westchester finished January with a 101-99 win over the Raptors 905 after Nigel Hayes drained a game-winning baseline jumper. The team went 16-10 in final three months of the 2017-18 en route to a 32-18 season.

The Knicks saw their roster start to shake up when Trey Burke and Nigel Hayes earned a call-up within the span of five days. Burke spent the final part of the season with the New York Knicks. Hayes received one 10-day contract with the Los Angles Lakers, two with Toronto Raptors, and finished the season with the Sacramento Kings.

Xavier Rathan-Mayes’ stellar play throughout his rookie season saw him ink a 10-day contract with the Memphis Grizzlies. Rathan-Mayes recorded three of his four triple-doubles in 2018 and is the only Dub Knick to record that stat. Westchester was the only team last season to have their opening night starting five in the NBA at the same time. While the starters were in the Association, the Dub Knicks kept rolling in the final portion of the season.

Before the Knicks competed in the 2018 G League Semifinals, Mike Miller was awarded the G League Coach of the Year award. The 2017-18 season was a memorable one for the organization and will go down as one of their best seasons in franchise history. From a G League-high five call-ups to assisting in the development of their players, Westchester started to make a case as being a top developmental team.

Hicks competed with the USA Men’s Qualifying Team in August, while John Jenkins was apart of the team in December.

The Westchester Knicks saw Hicks, Jenkins, Devon Baulkman, Paul Watson, Sekou Wiggs, Buay Tuach, Billy Garrett, and Zak Irvin return to the team for a second stint. The eight players have played a valuable role on the team and each player has taken their game to a new level during the 2018-19 campaign.

The Knicks started out the 2018-19 season with a 12-3 record. Westchester set a franchise record with a 56-point margin of victory against the Wisconsin Herd and had their best defensive effort in franchise history by holding the Windy City Bulls to 72 points. The Knicks put together a six-game winning streak, which was also a franchise record.

Jenkins recorded a career-high 41 points against the Lakeland Magic. Kornet swatted a career-high seven blocks against the Raptors 905. The seven blocks was second most in franchise history. Kenrich Williams became the fifth Dub Knick to record a double-double in his Westchester debut, along with the second player to record that stat in back-to-back games. The Knicks closed out the year with a 104-102 victory over the Capital City Go-Go. With a 15-7 record, Westchester closed out the year with the second best record in the Eastern Conference.

The curtain is set to come down on 2018 for the Westchester Knicks. The team had many great moments during the year and it will be greatly remembered in Westchester. The fifth chapter has been written in the team’s history book and the Knicks will put together another memorable chapter in 2019.