Kevin Knox Scouting Report

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Kevin Knox (Wing/forward, 18, 6'9", 212 lbs)

Statistical Profile

Strengths

Knox is an appealing player due mostly to his youth and frame. Knox is 18 and one of the youngest players in the Draft and already possesses an impressive frame that has significant room to grow. Standing 6'9" with nearly a 7' wingspan, he has great length for a modern combo forward, physically bearing many resemblances to Paul George and Jayson Tatum. He spent much of his time at Kentucky playing the three, and the rest at the two spot, and will benefit from NBA spacing as well as playing at his most natural position which seems to be a playmaking four. He is a mobile and fluid athlete who should be able to have more success athletically against bigger players than he did against more agile wings in college.

Knox is less explosive and quick than he is a smooth athlete and was a solid straight line driver with some crafty finishing ability. He has some of the best finishing ability in the draft in the 8–12 foot range using a variety of runners and floaters in the lane. As a shooter, he’s improved very quickly and should have the opportunity to shoot over many defenders that guard him at the next level. One of his most intriguing abilities is shooting off screens where he finished in the 53rd percentile on a large number of possessions. His fluidity on the perimeter is exemplified in his skill running pick-and-roll as a ball handler, a situation that occurred on 36 possessions where he finished in the 85th percentile, one of the best rates in the country for a player his size.

Knox also has a developing post game which wasn’t showcased much at Kentucky but looks sound when he puts it to use. He is also an effective scorer in transition and is a far better vertical athlete when he doesn’t need to finish in traffic.

Defensively, Knox’s combination of body type and his mobility make him an appealing project on defense. He has long strides and the ability to cover lots of ground in rotation or recovery situations as well as the potential to contain ball handlers on the wing with his size and length.

Weaknesses

Knox’s biggest weaknesses are largely due to a separation between what he looks like he can do and what he showed he can actually do. He is not a quick twitch athlete and struggles to get to the rim and finish due to a lack of a plus first step and poor vertical explosiveness in traffic. He doesn’t have the creation chops to get his own shot, especially against NBA athletes. He didn’t shoot well from three and was about average from the free throw line for his position. He showcased average vision on the move but tended to attempt to score himself and doesn’t project too well as a playmaker for others.

As a ball handler, Knox is limited to being a straight line driver and struggled to create in the half court without a ball screen. He has poor IQ and awareness when it comes to reading a defense and often took low percentage shots off the dribble in the mid range, dribbled into the defense, and committed costly turnovers. He settled too often for floaters or runners when he could have attacked the rim which points to questions about his aggressiveness and/or proclivity for contact.

Defensively, Knox was inconsistent and didn’t take full advantage of his physical abilities. He is not a high motor player on that end of the floor and is a poor team defender who falls asleep off the ball.

Summary

From an age and physical perspective, Knox is a very intriguing prospect. He has a fantastic physical profile and should look at home next to other NBA players. He is extremely young and has a lot of room to grow both from a physical and skill perspective. However, he is not a particularly high level athlete when it comes to explosiveness and burst, relying mostly on fluidity on the perimeter. He was inconsistent in all facets of the game, and he doesn’t have an elite skill to fall back on to bolster his draft stock or give him a high floor at the next level. Knox has a lottery body type, but is not a lottery talent. However, it is certainly plausible that he will grow significantly in the NBA as other Kentucky players have done in the past once they reach the next level with additional spacing and schemes that better suit their natural position.