2 weeks Ago
A number of New York Knicks have celebrated their birthdays in the last month, and backup big man Precious Achiuwa is the latest to do so, as he just turned 25 years old. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports The team's starting center, Mitchell Robinson, went down with an ankle injury early in the season, and it kept him out most of the year. Isaiah Hartenstein stepped into the starting lineup, and Achiuwa took on the role of backup big man after he was traded to the team in the OG Anunoby deal.
He averaged seven points, seven rebounds, and a block per game in the 49 games that he played with the Knicks. He was not a big part of the team's offense, but he did what was asked of him, which was to grab rebounds and play defense. Related: Julius Randle Rises in Top 100 Player Rankings Hartenstein left the Knicks in free agency to join the Oklahoma City Thunder, so Achiuwa will have to step up even more this season.
There have been talks of Julius Randle playing minutes at the center position, but Achiuwa will still likely be used a fair amount. If Achiuwa can continue to improve and be a solid backup option whenever Robinson is not on the court, he could help the Knicks contend with the likes of the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference..
