NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 25: Enes Kanter #00 of the New York Knicks celebrates after hitting a three-point basket against the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden on December 25, 2018 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
After being in Knicks purgatory, Enes Kanter finally gets a chance to play. To show his appreciation, he kissed the Knicks logo at half court.
Veteran center Enes Kanter showed his appreciation to the fans of the New York Knicks in a major way Wednesday night. Kanter, who has been benched by the Knicks coaching staff in favor of playing younger players, kissed the Knicks logo at half court once he entered.
Kanter would enter the game with the Knicks trailing by a double-digit margin in the third quarter. Perhaps his entry was propelled by the crowd who chanted “We want Kanter.” With the Knicks having nothing to lose and everything to gain, the entrance of Kanter became an instant highlight for the season.
Kanter lost his spot in the rotation earlier this month after Fizdale informed the veteran center that the team was looking to develop Mitchell Robinson and Luke Kornet. As any player with experience would, Kanter pondered the possibility of a trade or buy out. With the trade deadline looming, possibly Kanter kissing the floor was a signal that this may have been his last dance at Madison Square Garden.
So often, players who come from playoff teams are traded to non-contenders. As the NBA season wears on, those non-contending teams will soon favor developing younger players instead of winning games, which leads to the often-employed tactic of tanking. Kanter obviously would like to play, but if he isn’t going to play for a team in playoff contention, his logic concludes that he should be offered the opportunity to at least play for one that is.
Nevertheless, Kanter’s entrance will probably live forever amongst Knicks fans. With a 10-40 record, the Knicks haven’t had many highlights to the season. If Kanter gets the trade he desires, he will have left a lasting impact.