The New York Knicks entered the 2018-19 season with an uncertain situation at point guard. Emmanuel Mudiay, Frank Ntilikina and Trey Burke began the season as the point guards,without a clear favorite to start.
However, as the season progressed, Mudiay emerged as the starting point guard for the Knicks. Mudiay is 6’5”, 200 pounds. He is from the Congo and he is 22 years of age. Mudiay was drafted in the first round with the 7th pick by the Denver Nuggets in the 2015 NBA draft.
After Mudiay graduated from high school, he played for the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association. He got injured and played in a mere 10 games for the Tigers in his only season with the team before going to the NBA.
After he was drafted by the Nuggets, his career got off to a good start. In his debut with the Nuggets on opening night, Mudiay scored 17 points and had 9 assists.
Mudiay had a good rookie season with the Nuggets. Mudiay received All Rookie Second Team honors. Mudiay spent three season with the Nuggets Uber’s. In the 2015-16 season, Mudiay average 12.8 points and 5.5 assists per game. In the 2016-17 season, Mudiay averaged 11 points and 3.9 assists per game. In the 2017-18 season, his first with New York, he averaged 8.5 and 2.9 assists per contest. During the 2018-19 season with the Knicks, Mudiay has averaged 14.2 points and 3.8 assists per game. Mudiay has improved his scoring and passing ability over the years.
Mudiay has diverse skills. He can move without the basketball, catch the ball on the wing and drive into the lane. He can also dish the basketball to an open player close to the rim.
Mudiay can curl around from the baseline,receive a pass, drive into the lane and pass the ball to a player in back of the three point line. He can catch the ball in transition in back of the three point line and dribble into the lane and score. Additionally, he can dribble from the top of the key to the foul line and hit a mid range jump shot while drawing a foul.
He can make left handed layups while being guarded by a defender. Mudiay can catch the ball in back of the perimeter and make a three point shot. Also, he can dribble into the lane and bounce pass the ball to a player who can finish around the rim.
Mudiay can handle the basketball well with both his right and left hand. He can hit a bank shot close the rim. He can play along the perimeter and he can play drive into the interior and score or rebound a missed shot. Mudiay is not the fastest point guard in the NBA, but he is tough and he has good instincts.
He can also hit a clutch shot. With 24.1 seconds remaining in a game against the Bucks, Mudiay made a three point shot to tie the score at 124. The basket forced overtime.
In the overtime period against Milwaukee, Mudiay began the scoring for New York with a three point shot. He made a good bounce pass to Kevin Knox who was going to the rim. Knox missed the shot, but the pass was right on the money. With under 3 minutes to go in overtime, Mudiay made another three point shot to give the Knicks a 130-127 advantage.
With 1:09 remaining in overtime, Mudiay passed the ball to Daymean Dotson who made a three point shot to give the Knicks a 135-134 lead. With 30 seconds remaining in overtime, Mudiay rebounded a missed shot by Milwaukee which preserved the Knicks' win.
With 9.7 seconds left in overtime, Mudiay drove to the foul line and was fouled in the act of shooting. He made one foul shot. The Knicks won 136-134. Mudiay's clutch play down the stretch of the game helped the Knicks win the game.
The Knicks are hoping that Mudiay can continue to play well. He may be their starting point guard both now and in the future.
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