Brandon Knight made his first start Monday since Feb. 11, 2017 after missing the entire 2017-18 season because of a torn ACL and appearing in only 14 games this season with the Houston Rockets. The Cleveland Cavaliers took him in prior to the trade deadline, and Cavs head coach Larry Drew is well aware of what starting again means for him.
“I know what he’s gone through over a period with the injury and trying to come back from it,” Drew said, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic. “I know what he’s capable of doing. I know what type of player he is. He’s a fierce competitor. Not only does he do it from an offensive end, but defensively, he’s a tough kid. That addition in our lineup gives us a little versatility as far as we can move people around. … And I know how bad he wants to get back to the Brandon Knight of old. Certainly if he can get back to that, you guys are going to see a terrific player.”
Knight has been sharp since being acquired by Cleveland, hitting 6-of-7 from beyond the arc in his first two games with the team.
He’s scored nine points in outings against the Indiana Pacers and most-recently against the New York Knicks on Monday, giving a solid prospect of the kind of marksman help he can provide from the point guard and off-guard position.
Knight is hoping to reclaim what has been lost for the better part of two entire seasons, hopeful to show he’s made a full recovery and is able to bounce back from what was previously thought of as a career-derailing injury.