LAS VEGAS — Clippers point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Knicks forward Kevin Knox were never able to accomplish a goal of bringing another NCAA title to Kentucky. In fact, for the Wildcats, it was something of an underachieving season, losing to Kansas State in the Sweet 16 after going through a four-game losing streak in February.
But Gilgeous-Alexander and Knox still became lottery picks in the draft last month and the new 6-foot-5 Clippers field general is hardly surprised the 18-year-old Knox has taken Las Vegas by storm.
“It’s the same Kevin I saw day in and day out, but with the NBA spacing and better players around him,” Gilgeous-Alexander told The Post at Thomas & Mack Center. “It’s only making him better. I expected this from Kevin. I knew he was a really big talent and things like this were going to happen to him.
“Kevin has the ultimate potential. You see it at summer league. He can play multiple positions. I think his game fits today’s NBA.”
Despite his off game vs. the Celtics against young defensive-minded forward Semi Ojehelye, Knox, who was taken 9th, is averaging 21.3 points. His shooting percentage — after Thursday’s 5-of-20 clunker, when he appeared to hit the summer-league wall — has fallen to 35 percent, but he’s been getting to the free-throw line and scoring in a myriad of ways despite defenses now loading up on him.
The 1-3 Knicks finish summer-league play at 4:30 p.m. against the Pelicans. It’s unclear if the 6-foot-9, 215-pound Knox will be shut down after looking like he had dead legs against Boston. Another reason Knox may have regressed vs. Boston is not having starting point guard Frank Ntilikina in the lineup.
“I would say the biggest thing is getting stronger for Kevin,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “He’s so skilled. Obviously a guy being that young, you’re going to need to get stronger. That’s for a lot of rookies in the NBA. Once Kevin gets stronger, you’ll see a different mindset.”
When Kentucky won the SEC, it was Gilgeous-Alexander snaring MVP of the conference tournament with 29 points in the final against Tennessee. Knox scored 18 points in the championship game.
Certainly in Vegas, Knox has shown a killer instinct as the No. 1 option through four summer-league games, still mounting 15 points on a bad day vs. Boston. Off the court, though, Knox can be less aggressive, according to Gilgeous-Alexander.
“He’s a quiet teammate but once he gets out of his shell, he’s a funny guy,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “He seems quiet at first, but once he gets out of that shell and gets comfortable with you, he’s one of the funniest guys around.”
The Clippers point guard, who turned 20 on Thursday, was close with Knox at Kentucky and they’ve socialized since coming to Vegas.
“He wanted to go to a program that wanted him as much as he wanted them,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “That was the Knicks.”
The Knicks also rested center Luke Kornet in the finale because of a sprained ankle. Slated for the backup center job before Mitchell Robinson’s summer-league breakout, Kornet signed a one-year, $1.6 million deal on July 1, but was healthy for one game.
Knicks scout Clarence Gaines Jr., Phil Jackson’s chief front-office hire, confirmed on Twitter he will not return. The Knicks’ new front office staff let him finish out his contract, which just expired. Gaines wasn’t at summer league and the former Bulls scout is no longer with the Knicks, but he praised president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry.
Gaines was best known for convincing Jackson to draft Kristaps Porzingis and is an astute judge of players who can fit into the triangle. The new brass is looking primarily for athletes over team-oriented players with high basketball IQs.
Gaines tweeted, in part: “The Knicks are on the right path with [Mills, Perry] & Fizdale at the helm. I look forward to the day ‘The Garden’ is rocking with ‘Defense’ chants in the playoffs. Blessed to be a part of Knicks for 4+ years.”
The Knicks haven’t announced it, but their final assistant-coaching hire will be Kaleb Canales, formerly of the Mavericks.