The Golden State Warriors made a low-cost investment in a former high pick. Will the partnership continue?
When looking back at their own draft history, the Golden State Warriors have made a few errors over the years, with the 2020 selection of James Wiseman the most notable.
But they aren’t the only ones. The New York Knicks spent their 2018 ninth round draft pick on Kevin Knox, one pick ahead of Mikal Bridges, who they gave up a fortune to acquire in 2024.
Knox was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in 2022 and has bounced around the league since, with the Trail Blazers, and Pistons, before another career reset last year.
Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty ImagesKevin Knox rebuilt his career in Golden State
Kevin Knox hit the low point of his career in the 2024 offseason, forced to accept a deal being assigned to the Golden State Warriors’ G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors.
This reflected the non-existent market for his services, but it was a move that was a step backwards to move forwards.
Knox spent the back end of 2024 impressing in the G League and learning in the Warriors’ system, before being called up to sign with Golden State.
Amid support from his teammates, Knox contributed at the end of the regular season, playing in 14 games under Steve Kerr.
He then featured in five playoff games, playing in the postseason for the first time since 2022 with the Hawks. He had previously played only three playoff games in his career.
While he played just 4.2 minutes per game in these playoff appearances, simply to be there was a step in the right direction.
Now he has to build on this gradual step forward, and make 2025-26 count.
What next for Kevin Knox
Kevin Knox is still only 25-years-old, and his potential to improve is the key reason why the Warriors brought him in last season. Now there is a decision ahead.
Knox is an unrestricted free agent, and he will be listening out to proposals when and if they come his way, paying attention to the financial incentives.
But really, Knox should place an opportunity with the Warriors over all else, even if he ends up taking a discount.
At this stage of his career he needs consistency, and he needs an element of trust from the coaching staff, that he has begun to earn with Golden State.
Will he ever earn a starting spot on the Warriors? That’s up to Knox to prove, he has a lot more work to do. But he should be pleased with his progress last season, where he can now say he is on an upwards trajectory for the first time in a long time.