Phoenix Suns: Brandon Knight tears ACL; to miss entire 2017-18 season
By Tony Webb
Phoenix Suns point guard Brandon Knight has a torn ACL and will likely miss the entire NBA season. What is next for the Suns and Knight?
Phoenix Suns point guard Brandon Knight has torn the ACL in his left knee, most likely putting him on the shelf for the upcoming NBA season.
Knight reportedly injured the knee playing in a pro-am game in Miami. This is another blow for Knight as another of his seasons will be cut short due to injuries. At age 25, Knight has only played in 106 games the past two seasons, since signing his five-year, $70 million contract extension with the Phoenix Suns.
Knight was set to enter his third full season with the Suns as the backup to Eric Bledsoe, but remained a key focal point in Earl Watson’s rotation. Knight has proven himself as a quality point guard in the NBA. A career 15.2 PPG, 4.3 APG and 41 percent shooter, Knight is a big loss to a Suns teams that continues to rebuild and Knight was set to be a key component this season.
Phoenix now will rely on Tyler Ulis, entering his second season, to play big minutes in the back up point guard role. Ulis averaged 7.3 PPG and 3.7 APG in 18 minutes a game in his rookie campaign.
The Suns are also a popular rumored destination for newly available star Kyrie Irving. Perhaps the sudden injury to Knight might make Phoenix become more aggressive in a push for Irving.
Although the Suns won’t tear apart their rebuilding effort in order to obtain Irving, he know doubt would speed up the process of regaining success.
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No matter what takes place, the Phoenix Suns guard situation will be one to keep an eye on the rest of the offseason and into the season. And you can’t help but feel for both the Suns and Brandon Knight.