The NBA rewarded New York Knicks‘ Willy Hernangomez for his impressive season while the team made some additions to their summer league team.
The 2016-17 NBA season of rookies was weak. No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons was out and the rest of the draft class, for the most part, went through some growing pains. Joel Embiid (drafted in 2014) was a stud for all of 31 games, but Willy Hernangomez (taken in 2015) gutted it out for a whole season.Hernangomez was second to Embiid among rookies in rebounds per game and PER. However, he led all rookies in double-doubles and was tied for second in field goal percentage.
The stellar numbers led to an All-Rookie First Team selection.
The 23-year-old got some good experience in the starting lineup, and he’s under contract for three more seasons. Hernangomez isn’t necessarily the starting center of the future, but he should be on the team for a long time.
The Knicks made a couple new additions to their summer league team. Ian Begley of ESPN New York reports to no surprise that Marshall Plumlee will join the team in Orlando.
Plumlee, 24, made the team last season as an undrafted free agent. He’ll be competing this summer to keep his spot.
Via Begley:
Many in the organization are high on him due in part to his potential, his energy and his professional approach. So it’s not surprising that the club would like to continue to develop him
A fresh face to the team will be former Florida State guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes. According to an FSU assistant coach, the 23-year-old will join the Knicks in Orlando on July 1.
Rathan-Mayes went undrafted after playing three successful years with the Seminoles. He averaged 10.6 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in his final season.
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