NBA regular season

Knicks’ Dennis Smith Jr requests to play in G League – reports

Martin Mendoza
Knicks’ Dennis Smith Jr requests to play in G League – reports

STRUGGLE. After an impressive rookie season, Dennis Smith Jr has seen his playing time dwindle throughout the years.

Photo by Elsa/Pool Photo/USA TODAY Sports/Reuters

Dennis Smith Jr has failed to crack the rotation of Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau as he saw action in just 3 games this season

Yearning for more playing time, New York Knicks guard Dennis Smith Jr has requested to be sent down to the NBA G League, reports said on Sunday, January 31.

Smith, 23, has played just 29 minutes in 3 games this season, scoring only 9 points for the Knicks.

The high-flying guard has failed to crack the rotation of Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau after suffering a thigh bruise at the start of the season.

He logged in his 10th straight DNP (did not play) on Monday, February 1 in the Knicks’ 129-115 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. 

Selected as the No. 9 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks, Smith had an impressive rookie campaign, averaging 15.2 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.8 rebounds in 29.7 minutes – all career highs – in 69 starts.

Knicks’ Dennis Smith Jr requests to play in G League – reports

He was then traded to the Knicks in the middle of the 2018-2019 season as part of the Kristaps Porzingis deal.

Knicks’ Dennis Smith Jr requests to play in G League – reports

According to reports, the team is expected to grant his request and allow him to play for the Knicks’ G League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks, in the upcoming G League season, which is set to tip-off on February 10 at the Disney World bubble in Orlando, Florida. 

There, Smith can once again showcase his talent as all G League teams are scheduled to play 15 games each. –Rappler.com

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