NBA: Kevin Knox Open To Knicks Signing Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler

New York Knicks rookie Kevin Knox is keen to win an NBA Championship with his new team — something that has not happened now for 55 years. He believes the team have the ingredients to make it happen in the next five years.

The 19-year-old was drafted by the New York franchise as the ninth overall pick and officially confirmed as a Knicks player on July 5. He has been given hope that he can compete for a starting spot in his rookie season after coach David Fizdale revealed that all five positions will be an open competition.

The Knicks are hoping to build a squad to challenge for the championship and are hoping Lithuanian star player Kristaps Porzingis can help lure the top NBA talent to the franchise. The likes of Kyrie Irving and Jimmy Butler are likely to enter free agency next summer and have been linked with moves to New York. The latter could even leave this year after requesting the Minnesota Timberwolves for a trade.

It is no secret that Butler wants to play with Irving and the latter is said to be the Knicks’ top target next summer. Kevin Durant has also been linked with a move to the Knicks, but is also on the radar of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Knox revealed that the players do not give heed to the constant speculation and believes the Knicks hierarchy will do the needful to bring in the right players. Despite that, he made it clear they would love to have one or more of the All-Stars namely Irving or Butler.

"You let the noise happen. That’s the general manager, head coach, and the president,” Knox told Complex during a recent in-depth interview. “That’s their job to bring in who they want. We just stick to playing basketball, and getting to bond with each other.”

"Whoever we get, of course they’re part of the family now, so you gotta treat ‘em like family. Obviously, we would love to have anyone that’s a superstar, All-Star—whether that’s Kyrie or Jimmy or whoever — in our organization. Be able to help us win a championship," he added.

Knicks being able to win the NBA title in the next five years was not the only bold claim Knox made during the interview, as he also waded into the LeBron James vs Michael Jordan debate. The rookie had an interesting answer to the question as he chose to put a different player ahead of the duo.

“Kevin Durant first, then LeBron James, then Michael Jordan,” Knox said when asked, who according to him was the greatest ever NBA player. Surprising, especially since the Golden State Warriors player has very rarely been put in the same bracket before despite being one of the best of the current generation.

The Knicks will begin their NBA pre-season campaign against the Washington Wizards on Monday night. They then play the Brooklyn Nets twice, New Orleans Pelicans and the Wizards again before beginning their NBA regular season campaign against the Atlanta Hawks on Oct. 17.