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It’s been seven months since the Westchester Knicks were last in action. The offseason is just about over and the countdown to the regular season is underway. Westchester’s roster is starting to form and the season opener is less than two weeks away.
As the season inches closer, there are a few questions that need to be answered.
Can first-year head coach Derrick Alston continue development trend?
After serving as an assistant coach in Westchester for the past four seasons, Derrick Alston will enter this season as a head coach. Not only did Alston play a role in the development of Westchester’s players the past four seasons, but he brings a vast knowledge in player development and experience as a player. He worked in player development with the Houston Rockets for three years. Alston has 18 years of experience as a player and has the experience of playing in the NBA, which is advantageous for young players working their way to the Association.
Can Westchester continue to balance development and winning?
The Westchester Knicks are 61-39 and made the postseason in the past two seasons. Along with that, the Knicks have seen nine NBA call-ups, which is the most in the G League. The Knicks have excelled in multiple departments in the past two NBAGL campaigns. Westchester has a great coaching staff in first-year head coach Derrick Alston, Keith Bogans, and Ross McMains that focus on development.
Westchester will have a talented roster this season with two-way player Kadeem Allen, Kenny Wooten blocking shots, a scoring guard in Amir Hinton, a versatile player who is a good rebounder in Zak Irvin, and more. Not only will Westchester have a talented team, but the team has shown to prepare their players when their roles increase and the team continues to roll. While the talent on the team will be shown throughout the season, there are a couple players that will show that they are deserving of an NBA call-up.
Will there be any New York Knick players assigned to Westchester?
While the New York Knicks didn't land top-tier free agents, the roster is improved from last season. One of the rookies, Ignas Brazdeikis, may not see much action early in the season. Knicks coach David Fizdale said Brazdeikis is “definitely a work in progress” and “every minute he plays is important for him,” per Marc Berman of the New York Post. That could be an indication that the Michigan product will spend time in Westchester to further develop his game and get quality playing time.