As a rookie with the Jazz in 2013-14, Trey Burke started 68 games. He averaged 12.8 points and 5.7 assists, was an all-rookie first-team selection, and finished third in rookie of the year voting behind winner Michael Carter-Williams and Victor Oladipo.
Then the Jazz drafted another point guard, Dante Exum, with their lottery selection in 2014.
To say Burke’s confidence took a hit would be comparable to saying he has made some fans with his early Knicks showing.
“Being 20 years old, it messed me up a little bit mentally, and I think 80 percent of the game is mental,” said Burke, who was the No. 9 pick in 2013 by Minnesota with his rights traded to Utah. “When you’re going out there with that on your conscience, you’re not going to be the best version of yourself.
“Through experience I think I learned how to handle those type of trials [and] adversities. It’s made me the player I am today.”
Now Burke, who is coming off back-to-back 26-point games as the Knicks’ version of instant offense off the bench, welcomes fellow point guards. He is part of the Knicks’ new-look, three-point-guard backcourt with two other lottery picks, Emmanuel Mudiay and Frank Ntilikina.“We can all coexist,” Burke said Sunday in Tarrytown. “We all have unique talents, unique abilities. Emmanuel has his ability to create for others and himself, as well as myself, and then Frank with his versatility, his ability to play defense and get up in the ball. And he’s young, 19 years old. He has a long way to go, but he’s definitely on the right path. We have a lot of good veterans on this team that are showing him the ropes.”
That probably includes Burke, who is a grizzled 25 and probably spins yarns for Ntilikina and Mudiay, 21, of what it was like going up against Bob Cousy or how the nation has changed since there were 36 stars on the flag. Burke is confident now. He says he hasn’t surprised himself.
“I prepared for the opportunity. I stayed locked in … even though I wasn’t playing,” said Burke, who joined the Knicks in January. “I’ve been playing confident as well. A lot of guys get the opportunity and they’re timid. Me, I wanted to be aggressive and be myself.”
Burke has been more than just a scorer who can create off the dribble. He has committed just 10 turnovers, against 51 assists, while averaging 15.0 minutes. So yeah, while the 6-foot-5 bookends of Ntilikina and Mudiay will play and play alongside each other, coach Jeff Hornacek is finding time for all three.
“Trey’s played extremely well in these last two games, so we kind of kept him out there,” Hornacek said. “I think that combination of him and Frank has been good off the bench. Emmanuel’s been good with our starting guys. But at times, I want to see Emmanuel and Frank and see Emmanuel and Trey together.”