Fantasy Owners in Disbelief as Tom Thibodeau Kicks Kemba Walker Out of NY Knicks' Rotation

Fantasy Owners in Disbelief as Tom Thibodeau Kicks Kemba Walker Out of NY Knicks' Rotation
(Photo : Sarah Stier/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NEW YORK - Kemba Walker #8 of the New York Knicks dribbles during the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on November 15, 2021 in New York City. The Knicks won 92-84.

New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau made a shocking announcement on Monday afternoon, telling reporters that star guard Kemba Walker will no longer be part of the team's starting lineup as well as their rotation. That will begin on Tuesday when they face the Brooklyn Nets in a blockbuster Big Apple matchup.

Thibodeau explains decision to remove Walker from rotation

Thibodeau said that "it was a tough decision to make, but you always have to do what you think is best for the team." Thibodeau added that he has great respect for Walker and what he has accomplished in the NBA, but it simply would be tough to play three small guards together in their starting lineup.

Walker was the odd man out for Thibodeau, who decided to bench him permanently in favor of Alec Burks. Thibodeau liked what he saw from Burks when he started for the Knicks in Saturday's win over the Atlanta Hawks. Burks scored 23 points in 39 minutes of action against the Hawks, a game in which Walker did not play.

In that game, the Knicks thrived without Walker, cruising to a 99-90 win against one of their main Eastern Conference rivals. Thibodeau said that he wants to tighten the Knicks rotation moving forward and utilize the same players suited up in the win against Atlanta.

That is bad news for Walker, who is averaging career lows in points (11.1), assists (3.1), rebounds (2.6), field goal attempts per game (9.8), and minutes (24.5) for the Knicks this season. In November, he struggled mightily, averaging just 10 points on 39 percent shooting from the field, including a woeful 29 percent clip from deep in 12 games played.

Related ArticleBoogie to the Bucks: Milwaukee Signs Four-time All-star DeMarcus Cousins to Bolster Front Court

Walker failed to form a connection with other Knicks starters

The Knicks' starting lineup of Walker, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, Evan Fournier, and RJ Barrett was one of the worst in the NBA this season. Thibodeau tried to make it work, using this lineup for 287 minutes this campaign, the most for a five-man crew in 2021. The Knicks have suffered because of it, with opponents outscoring this lineup by 15.6 points per 100 possessions in those minutes. They also have the NBA's worst defensive rating with a 118.9 mark.

Much of the blame has been placed on Walker, and deservedly so. When he is on the court, the Knicks are being outscored by 13 points per 100 possessions. When Walker is not on the floor, the Knicks are outscoring teams by 11 points per 100 possessions.

This was not the homecoming Walker envisioned when he signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Knicks back in August. Walker sacrificed vast sums of money to return to New York, but that dream move has quickly become a nightmare for the four-time All-Star.

READ MORE ON SWN:

Cowboys vs Saints Week 13 Predictions, Picks, Odds, and Thursday Night Football Preview

Cardinals vs Bears Week 13 Picks and Preview: Will Justin Fields Start in Key NFC Duel?

© 2023 Sportsworldnews.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

Real Time Analytics