This year’s draft is filled with plenty of exciting rookies. Most casual fans only pay attention to the first fifteen picks or so since they are the highest ranked players. The fact of the matter is that many successful NBA players are drafted late in the first and second rounds. Isaiah Thomas was taken with the very last pick in the 2011 draft, Lou Williams was taken with the 45th overall pick in the draft, and Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic was taken with the 41st pick of the draft. Allonzo Trier could be no different.
Rookie Watch: Allonzo Trier
Allonzo Trier is a little different from the typical draft pick. He signed with the New York Knicks as an undrafted free agent shortly after the conclusion of the draft. Trier had his option of being drafted in the second round but turned down the chance. A risky play by the rookie, he believed in his skill and knew a team would sign him regardless. He wanted to sign with a team that best fits his skill set.
Trier averaged 16.8 points per game with the University of Arizona. He averaged 49 percent shooting from the field. In his final year with the Wildcats, he had some career bests, averaging 18 points, shooting 50 percent from the field, and knocking down 62 percent of two-point shots.
This year in the NBA summer league he did not disappoint. He averaged 17 points on 45 percent shooting in four summer league games. Triers most notable game was against the Los Angeles Lakers where he scored 21 points on 8 for 13 shooting. He also grabbed his first professional double-double with ten rebounds that game. Trier also played against summer league MVP Josh Hart in that game.
Trier signed a two-way contract with the Knicks which means he will spend a bulk of the season in the G-League. However, he can spend up to 45 days with the Knicks during the regular season. Barring injuries, Trier can be a very useful player off the bench and should be on everyone’s radar going forward.
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