The Knicks are 1-0 this season in games 6-11 big man Henry Ellenson has played. It’s a start.
Ellenson, the 2016 Pistons first-round pick, was waived by Detroit on Feb. 8 to make room for veteran guard Wayne Ellington. The Knicks pounced, signing him last week to a 10-day contract after the All-Star break.
The 22-year-old former Marquette star made his team debut in the Knicks’ victory over San Antonio on Sunday that broke an 18-game losing streak at the Garden. In a four-minute pocket of the second quarter, Ellenson missed his lone shot — a 3-pointer.
He’s an outside-shooting big man whom the Knicks will probably sign to a second 10-day on Friday. Ellenson believes he would still be in Detroit if president/coach Stan Van Gundy didn’t get fired over the summer. Ex-Nets executive Ed Stefanski is in charge now.
“If Stan was there, it’d probably be different for me this season,” Ellenson told The Post before the Knicks hosted the Magic on Tuesday. “The way things worked out, Stan getting fired, a new front office and coaching staff, there was a change of scenery there.”
In his two and a half seasons, Ellenson played in 59 games (just two in 2018-19). He averaged 3.8 points and 2.2 rebounds in nine minutes. He also spent time with their G League team in Grand Rapids, Mich., where he averaged 19 points. What went wrong?
“I’m the 18th pick coming in and had some guys above me was tough,” Ellenson said. “I had Tobias [Harris] and Blake [Griffin] in front of me. Those are two guys — Blake is Blake and Tobias is playing like an All-Star. I learned from them. I got a lot better from them.
“This was a team trying to make the playoffs, and I couldn’t crack a spot. I learned a lot from it. The next step for me with the Knicks is to take what I learned my first two and a half years and be a professional and come in and show consistency.”
This Knicks season is all about auditions, so Ellenson is in the perfect place. If the Knicks hit the jackpot and use all their cap space on two superstars, Knicks GM Scott Perry would have to fill the rest of the roster with minimum contracts.
That’s why Ellenson is aboard. Plus, after the Kristaps Porzingis blockbuster, the Knicks were left with three open spots on their 15-man roster. By league rules the Knicks had to fill two of them to get to the minimum 14. John Jenkins was the other signee.
“Henry has a chance,” one NBA personnel director told The Post. “He has OK skills across the board but nothing to hang his hat on yet to help you win consistently. However, he’s 6-10 with a good IQ and superior work ethic. He has to improve his outside shooting because he’s stuck being a 4 and 5 in today’s game.”
Knicks coach David Fizdale seems impressed enough, telling Ellenson he would get more action this week.
“I think anytime you get those guys in the 6-9 range with versatility, ability to make an open shot, good athlete, those are worth taking a look at,” Fizdale said. “All the reports about his character, and who he is as a worker, we were encouraged by.”
Ellenson, from a tiny town in northern Wisconsin called Rice Lake, said his top attribute is “versatility.”
“Being 6-11 and handle the ball, that’s what I do best, handling and shooting,” Ellenson said. “Being able to get it off the rim, rebounding and go. I feel I could do that at a high level. I just need confidence on the court to do it.
“It’s just getting rhythm with these guys on the court. It’s not hard to pick up. They only have a couple of plays — some pick-and rolls and stuff. That was easy enough. Just rhythm being on the court.”
Center DeAndre Jordan (ankle) is expected to miss his second straight game Tuesday against Orlando.