Nate Robinson
Nate is probably the most exciting player on the New York Knicks, and one of the most exciting players in the entire league. Despite his small size, he is a high-flyer as evidenced by his two slam-dunk championships. He plays with a lot of energy and he is developing into a legitimate scorer. Nate is averaging 17.1 PPG on the season. He is shooting 45% from the field, not bad for a guy his size. He is also a decent defensive player despite his lack of height. He is 15th in the league in steals at 1.5 a game. He is a great fan favorite in New York. Fans love an underdog, and there is no bigger underdog than a 5'9" guy playing in the NBA. Not only is he playing in the NBA, he is playing at a very high level and he is one of the biggest reasons why the Knicks are in the hunt for a playoff spot.
David Lee
David Lee is no longer just a nice role player. He has developed into a legitimate star. He has continued to improve his game every year. Many said that he would not fit well in new Knick coach Mike D'Antoni's system but he has flourished. This season, he is averaging a careeer-high 16.6 PPG and he is second in the league in rebounding at 11.9 a game. His shooting percentage is .556, eighth in the league. He also leads the league in double-doubles at forty-five. He is arguably the biggest reason why the Knicks are in the playoff hunt. He was snubbed for the all-star game this year, but he is well on his way to being a perennial all-star in the league. He is not a great defender, but unlike some of his teammates, at least he competes hard defensively. He is a hard hat, lunch pale, do the dirty work sort of player, and that kind of guy resonates well with Knicks fans. He is an extremely popular player in New York. This may be controversial, but one of his greatest appeals is that he is one of the few white, American star players in the league. Since the majority of NBA fans are white Americans, they can relate better to Lee than some other star players.
So who do the Knicks keep?
The Knicks are going to have a very difficult decision to make as to which one of these guys they keep. There can be strong arguments made in favor of each one. If the Knicks bring in a superstar in the summer of 2010, like a Lebron James, the important factor is deciding who would complement that superstar better. Nate is a guy who needs the ball in his hands to be effective, so that could be a problem. Lee. on the other hand, does not need the ball in his hands. His strength is rebounding and he gets many of his baskets off of offensive rebound putbacks. With a guy like Lebron drawing so much attention on his drives to the basket, it should open up Lee even more for easy lay-ups and offensive rebounds. Lee's game seems to be more compatible with a superstar player, which is why the Knicks should keep Lee at all costs. This means that they will most likely have to say goodbye to Nate, and as tough as that may be, it is the right decision for the organization.
