The Knicks have waived guard James Young two days after signing him, the team announced (via Twitter). Young’s next stop could be the organization’s G League affiliate in Westchester.
The 25-year-old shooting guard spent three years with the Celtics and had a brief stay with the Sixers after being taken with the 17th pick in the 2014 draft. Young played in Israel last season.
The move brings the Knicks’ roster to 19, including two players on two-way deals. They have until Monday to trim it down to 17.
Young seems like a guy who deserves another shot in the NBA… he’s yet to really put up and solid numbers in his limited NBA action but has put up very impressive stats in the G-League. And he seems to be a decent 3-pt shooter, and at 6’7″ with the ability to play SG/SF I wouldn’t be surprised if he winds up getting a shot somewhere this season, seems like he deserves it.
He has had so many shots and honestly, I”ve seen him play numerous times in the G League, and he didn’t stand out there either. Remember when the big battle for the last spot on the Celtics was between him and RJ Hunter?
I am a James Young fan, but I agree that he has likely blown his chance in the NBA one too many times. Whether it was being out of shape or just not trying hard enough to improve once he got the rookie contract, who knows? But he cannot coast through the NBA on talent alone like he did in high school and tried to do at Kentucky. He is another one of the guys that I was shocked came out after a rather mediocre freshman year. Sure, he got paid, but is that the end goal?
I am not watching the sport of basketball to see guys make money. I am watching to see fellow human beings try their hardest to make themselves the best at an athletic event. You don’t watch the Olympics to see the 100 meter jog for the cash. I don’t care one bit about their finances. If that is all a player cares about, I would rather they just not be in the league at all and go into a different profession. I would imagine that most fans feel that way as well, whether they want to admit it or not.
At the end of the day yes is a passion, but they have families to support & bills to pay… so money has always got to be more important than winning for example, which doesn’t pay bills.
But money is always the top choice for a pro-athlete, if they are any good at all!
Yea Young should get another shot of getting back into the NBA