Brandon Knight suffered a torn acl in his left knee last week and will likely miss the entire 2017-18 NBA season. Last season, Knight averaged 11.0 points per game, while backing up Eric Bledsoe. Knight has averaged 15.2 ppg during his six-year NBA career. However, last season was the first time in his career that he's had to come off the bench for most of the season. As a result, the 11.0 points per game was his lowest average since entering the NBA.
Just two seasons ago, Knight averaged a career-high 19.6 ppg playing in a starting role for the Phoenix Suns.
Prior to joining Phoenix, he's played for the Detroit Pistons and the Milwaukee Bucks. As a member of all three teams, he has failed to make an appearance in the NBA playoffs.
The Suns have been known for having too many guards on their roster for a few years now. Just a few seasons ago, their backcourt included players like all-star Isaiah Thomas and Goran Dragic, along with Eric Bledsoe.
The organization chose to keep Bledsoe and Knight together, who both played under coach John Calipari in college for the Kentucky Wildcats, just one season apart.
Kentucky ties with Bledsoe
Bledsoe played on a team that included John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Patrick Patterson, which did not allow him to display his full potential.
Knight, however, played for a much less talented Kentucky team and was the star player on the team. In his one and done season with the Wildcats, he averaged 17.3 ppg. He also led his team to the final four of the NCAA tournament that year but would lose in that round. Knight then went on to be the No. 8 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.
NBA experience and ACL injury
Brandon has yet to experience the level of success he achieved in college in the NBA. Every team that he's played on during his pro-career has been young and lacked the veterans to provide the necessary experience needed. Still, Knight has shown he can score the basketball while playing the point guard position.
According to ESPN, "Knight was injured during a pro-am game on Wednesday in Miami. He still has three years left on his current contract that is worth $44 million. So he may be secure with the Suns until he recovers from the injury."
However, the development of another former Kentucky guard, Tyler Ulis, could put Brandon in jeopardy of losing his spot on the team if Ulis has another impressive season.
The Suns drafted G/F Josh Jackson from Kansas University in this summer's NBA Draft with the No. 4 overall pick. They are one of the teams many speculate could be a playoff team if they add the proper veterans to surround their young core.
Unfortunately, Knight will have to sit back and be a spectator this season and witness what the young Phoenix Suns will do from the sidelines.
