Kurt Rambis continues to catch a lot of criticism from the media and fans alike for his role in the Knicks’ recent struggles. He couldn’t right the ship during his brief stint as head coach and has otherwise served as an extension of Phil Jackson during a very unsuccessful regime.
Now that Jackson is gone, however, Rambis still remains and will seemingly stay on Jeff Hornacek’s staff as an assistant. Much like any NBA offense, New York’s will once again feature elements of the triangle offense. They’ll also figure to push the pace a bit more offensively under Hornacek. With all that in mind, Rambis apparently knew of a good fit for the team and put his recruiting hat on this summer.
“You can thank Kurt [Rambis] for getting the ball rolling for me in in New York,’’ recent Knicks signee Michael Beasley told the New York Post. “I told him I’d love to play there. He said he’d make a phone call.’’
Beasley, who called himself a “walking bucket,” isn’t too far off when talking about his efficiency. He averaged 9.4 points on 53% from the field and 42% from deep through 16.7 minutes with the Milwaukee Bucks last season. He’ll certainly be able to pack a nice offensive punch off the bench for the Knicks next year. Should they find a deal for Carmelo Anthony before training camp begins, perhaps Beasley could be thrusted into an even more substantial role.
After coaching him with the Minnesota Timberwolves back in 2010-11, Rambis saw the potential in Beasley and helped him put together a career year. The former No.2 draft pick logged 19.2 points on 45% shooting from the field and 37% from downtown. There’s no doubt Beasley can score. Even though his defensive impact may still be somewhat suspect, Rambis and the Knicks likely believe that he can excel if utilized correctly and put in the right situation. He’s already shown that in his more recent NBA seasons.
As far as Beasley’s concerned, he’s ready to continue proving himself and thinks he deserves the minutes and respect necessary to do that. An intriguing opportunity in New York awaits. Check out more of the interview with Beasley, as he discusses how can help the Knicks, potentially playing with Anthony, and more.
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