Kevin Knox II

    0
    Image of Kevin Knox II
    Image of Player Kevin Knox II

    Kevin Knox II Bio

    Kevin Devon Knox II (born August 11, 1999) is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the Windy City Bulls of the NBA G League. A 6-foot-8 forward, Knox first rose to national attention as a five-star recruit at Tampa Catholic High School before spending one season at the University of Kentucky. He was selected ninth overall by the New York Knicks in the 2018 NBA draft and has since played for several NBA and G League franchises.

    Across his professional career, Knox has suited up for the New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, and the Rip City Remix, Rip City Remix, and Santa Cruz Warriors of the G League. In September 2018, he signed a multi-year endorsement deal with Puma.

    Early Life and Background

    Kevin Devon Knox II was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and grew up in a family with deep ties to professional sports. His father, Kevin Knox, is a former NFL wide receiver, and athletics quickly became a central part of the household. Knox has two younger brothers, Kobe and Karter, both of whom have followed him into competitive basketball at the collegiate level.

    Knox attended Tampa Catholic High School in Tampa, Florida, where he developed into one of the most highly regarded prospects in the country. He was named a McDonald’s All-American and Florida Mr. Basketball in 2017, capping a high school career in which he showed a rare combination of size, scoring touch, and perimeter skill for a player his age.

    Path to Basketball

    As a junior at Tampa Catholic, Knox averaged 30.1 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, leading the Crusaders to regional and district championships and a runner-up finish in the 2016 Florida Class 4A semifinals. That summer, he joined the E1T1 United AAU program on the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League circuit, where he posted 19.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game and scored a career-high 28 points in a win over All Ohio Red.

    As a senior, Knox averaged 28.5 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, leading Tampa Catholic to a 25–6 record. He played in both the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic. Rated as a five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2017 class, Knox committed to the University of Kentucky on May 6, 2017, choosing the Wildcats over Duke, Florida State, Missouri, and North Carolina.

    Kevin Knox II Career

    Early Career (2017–2018)

    In his lone season at Kentucky, Knox made an immediate impact for the Wildcats. He led the team with 15.9 points per game and helped guide Kentucky to a 10–8 SEC record and a fourth-place finish in the conference standings. His play earned him First Team All-SEC honors and the SEC Freshman of the Year award.

    Knox was a central figure in Kentucky’s run to the SEC tournament title, totaling 18 points and seven rebounds in the championship game win over Tennessee. The Wildcats entered the 2018 NCAA tournament with a perceived easier path to the Final Four, but were eliminated by Kansas State, with Knox posting 13 points and eight rebounds in the loss. On April 6, 2018, Knox declared for the NBA draft and hired an agent, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.

    New York Knicks Breakthrough (2018–2022)

    Knox was selected with the ninth overall pick by the New York Knicks in the 2018 NBA draft and signed his rookie contract on July 5, 2018. He made his NBA debut on October 17, 2018, coming off the bench for 10 points, two steals, and a block in a 126–107 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Two days later, he scored a team-high 17 points against the Brooklyn Nets before spraining his left ankle the following game against the Boston Celtics.

    Upon his return, Knox posted a career-high 26 points with four rebounds, four assists, a steal, and a block in a 136–134 overtime win over the Milwaukee Bucks on December 1, 2018. His strong December play earned him the Eastern Conference NBA Rookie of the Month Award, and on January 13, 2019, he set a new career high with 31 points, seven rebounds, and two steals in a 108–105 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.

    Over his next two seasons in New York, Knox’s role fluctuated. On December 21, 2019, he recorded a season-high 19 points in a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, though his shooting percentages and minutes declined during his sophomore year. The Knicks exercised his fourth-year option in December 2020, and Knox made his playoff debut on May 30, 2021, scoring two points in a first-round game four loss to the Atlanta Hawks. He posted a final Knicks season-high of 18 points on December 12, 2021, before being traded.

    Atlanta Hawks (2022)

    On January 13, 2022, the Knicks traded Knox and a protected future first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Cam Reddish, Solomon Hill, a 2025 second-round pick, and cash considerations. Knox made his Hawks debut on January 19, 2022, scoring two points in a 134–122 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. During Atlanta’s first-round playoff series against the Miami Heat, he set and then surpassed a playoff career high, scoring 10 points in a game one loss on April 17 and 12 points in a game four loss on April 24. The Hawks were eliminated in five games.

    Detroit Pistons (2022–2023)

    On August 1, 2022, Knox signed with the Detroit Pistons. He opened his Pistons tenure with three points and three rebounds in a 113–109 win over the Orlando Magic on October 19. On November 23, 2022, he delivered his best performance of the season, scoring 21 points with three rebounds and a career-high six three-pointers in a 125–116 win over the Utah Jazz.

    Portland Trail Blazers (2023)

    Knox was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers on February 9, 2023, as part of a four-team deal. He debuted for Portland on February 13 with four points and two rebounds in a 127–115 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. On April 8, 2023, he erupted for a season-high 30 points and 11 rebounds in a 136–125 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. He re-signed with the Trail Blazers on October 2, 2023, but was waived on October 21, 2023, before the start of the regular season.

    Return to Detroit and Utah (2023–2024)

    Knox rejoined the Detroit Pistons on November 8, 2023, and posted a season-high 19 points with seven rebounds in a 112–110 loss to the Houston Rockets on January 12, 2024. On February 8, 2024, he was traded to the Utah Jazz in a deal that sent Simone Fontecchio to Detroit, but he was waived by Utah the following day.

    Golden State Warriors Era (2024–2025)

    After a stint with the Rip City Remix in 2024, Knox signed with the Golden State Warriors on September 25, 2024, but was waived on October 19. He then joined the Santa Cruz Warriors, where he averaged 21.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists across 28 games. His strong play led to a 10-day contract with Golden State on February 19, 2025, followed by a second 10-day deal on March 1 and a contract for the rest of the 2024–25 season on March 22. Knox made his Warriors debut with five points and one rebound in a 132–108 win over the Sacramento Kings on February 21, 2025. On April 30, 2025, he recorded 14 points, four rebounds, and two assists in a 131–116 game five playoff loss to the Houston Rockets.

    Driving Style and Strengths

    Knox has consistently been valued for his size, perimeter shooting, and ability to score in bunches from the wing. His career-high six three-pointers against the Utah Jazz and his 30-point outing with the Trail Blazers highlight the scoring ceiling he has shown at both the NBA and G League levels.

    Notable Events and Milestones

    Knox’s most memorable early milestones include his 31-point game against the Philadelphia 76ers, his SEC tournament championship with Kentucky, and his two USA Basketball gold medals at the 2015 FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship and the 2016 FIBA Under-17 World Championship. His late-season surge with the Golden State Warriors in 2025 offered a return to the NBA playoff stage.

    Kevin Knox II Career Wins

    Kevin Knox II has notched multiple individual scoring highs and championship honors across his basketball career, including an SEC tournament title with Kentucky, two USA Basketball gold medals, and the SEC Freshman of the Year award. His professional resume features a series of career-best scoring nights with the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Portland Trail Blazers, and Golden State Warriors.

    NBA Highlights

    His NBA career opened with a 26-point performance against the Milwaukee Bucks in December 2018, followed by a 31-point game against the Philadelphia 76ers in January 2019. Knox added playoff appearances with the New York Knicks in 2021, the Atlanta Hawks in 2022, and the Golden State Warriors in 2025.

    Other Wins and Performances

    On the international stage, Knox won two gold medals with USA Basketball at the 2015 FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship and the 2016 FIBA Under-17 World Championship. In the G League, he averaged 21.8 points per game for the Santa Cruz Warriors before earning another NBA opportunity with Golden State.

    Kevin Knox II Family

    Family Background and Basketball Lineage

    Knox is the son of former NFL wide receiver Kevin Knox. He has two younger brothers, Kobe and Karter, both of whom play college basketball, with Kobe at the University of South Florida and Karter at the University of Arkansas. Karter was a former five-star recruit.

    Personal Life

    Knox signed a multi-year endorsement deal with Puma on September 4, 2018. He has spent much of his professional career moving between NBA and G League rosters while continuing to develop his game.

    2025 Season Performance

    Kevin Knox II’s 2024–25 season was defined by a strong G League resurgence with the Santa Cruz Warriors, where he averaged 21.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists over 28 games. That production earned him a 10-day contract with the Golden State Warriors on February 19, 2025, his first NBA call-up since the 2022–23 campaign.

    Knox made the most of his opportunity in Golden State, converting two 10-day deals into a rest-of-season contract on March 22, 2025. He debuted with five points in a win over the Sacramento Kings and delivered 14 points, four rebounds, and two assists in a first-round playoff game five loss to the Houston Rockets on April 30, 2025.

    Heading into the rest of 2025, Knox was listed as a member of the Windy City Bulls in the NBA G League, a move that positions him for continued development and another shot at a steady NBA rotation spot.