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Pre-Lottery New York Knicks Mock Draft

By Matthew Travis

Damyean Dotson, Allonzo Trier, New York Knicks. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Damyean Dotson, Allonzo Trier, New York Knicks. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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New York Knicks
Ja Morant, Murray State Racers. New York Knicks. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Ja Morant

Aside from Zion Williamson, the name you likely heard the most this past season was Ja Morant, and rightfully so.

Out of high school, Ja Morant wasn’t on anybody’s radar, he was a zero star recruit with only two offers to play in college. Those offers were from Murray State and South Carolina. Morant picked the school in the middle of nowhere Kentucky and the rest was history.

Morant was somewhat average in his freshman year with the Racers, but his sophomore season had him drawing comparisons to the likes of Russell Westbrook and Damian Lillard. He is an explosive player who can burn you to the rim, or kick it out and involve his teammates. Morant helped bring Murray State to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season and helped the Racers to the programs first tournament win since 2012.

He did so in unbelievable fashion by notching the first tournament triple-double since Draymond Green got one with Michigan State back in 2012. But that isn’t all that surprising for Morant as it was his third triple-double of the season, which is quite incredible at the college level.

To put that into perspective for you, Zion Williamson, who took home every single trophy or award he could, didn’t have a single triple-double in 31 games this past season. Yes, the argument can be made that Zion was playing against much better competition, but still, the facts remain the same.

Morant was incredible for Murray State in 2018-19, averaging 24.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 10 assists per game. The next closest in terms of points to Morant for Murray State in 2018-19 was Shaq Buchanan who averaged 13 points per game.

That just goes to show you how much Morant meant to his team last season. If he can learn to shoot the three a bit better and improve upon his 36.3% three-point percentage, Morant could be spectacular in the NBA.

While 36.3% from behind the arc isn’t that bad at all, there is most definitely room to improve. If the New York Knicks wind up not getting the first, or maybe even the second pick, Ja Morant will likely be the guy they take and rightfully so.

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