Kevin Knox
(Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

With the No. 9 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks select Kevin Knox from Kentucky to team up with KP and the boys.

No more speculation. No more waiting weeks and months for the next baller to be welcomed to New York City. We now know.

With the No. 9 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks have selected Kentucky’s Kevin Knox.

The pick wasn’t a great surprise as Knox had reportedly become New York’s top target by the time Thursday rolled around. He impressed the team at his workout and began shooting up draft boards. There were some reports that he may not even be available at nine.

Knox, 18, is one of the youngest players in the draft. His youth and clear room to improve was obviously appealing to a rebuilding Knicks organization. New York passed on Villanova swingman Mikal Bridges (who went tenth to Philly) in favor of Knox.

Knox led the Wildcats in scoring at 15.6 points per game, but unfortunately, it came during one of the more disappointing season of the John Calipari era at Kentucky. Despite another preseason top-five ranking, Kentucky finished with a record of 26-11 culminating in a Sweet 16 loss to Kansas State.

The former McDonald’s All-American had an up and down freshman season that mirrored Kentucky’s trials and tribulations. He had a 34 point game on the road in a victory against West Virginia. He also had a 1-of-9 shooting game against Monmouth and a 3-of-13 shooting night against Utah Valley.