But given the kind of year that Knight is having for Milwaukee — the Bucks are 27-22 and Knight is averaging career highs in points (17.9), rebounds (4.2), assists (5.3) and steals (1.6) while making an impressive 41.0 percent of his 3s — it seemed a good time to look back on the scouting report Calipari offered up at the time.
Note, especially, that Calipari foresaw Knight as a player who wants to be a closer — especially poignant given the 12 points he scored in overtime on Wednesday to help beat the Lakers. According to the NBA’s stats site, Knight ranks 12th in the league in Usage Rate (the percentage of possessions in which he is involved) in clutch situations this season.
With all that in mind, we brought that report to Knight to get his view on how his college coach thought about him at the time.
Is Knight a point guard?
Calipari said in 2011: They try to say that. Is Tyreke (Evans) a true point? You had John Wall, who they tried to say that about. Brandon is the lead guard who can run your team, can make shots, great in the locker room, really intelligent. … He can flat out make shots. He’s bigger than you think. He’s more athletic. He’s got speed — a little bit like Tony Parker speed, where he can take it right at you and speed the game up a little bit. I’m sold on him.
Knight says now: I think I have proven myself as a point guard, but I have a lot to show. I know coming out of college that was something said about me. I am still proving that. I haven’t been in the playoffs yet, and in my opinion, that is where you prove yourself as a player, especially as a point guard. You need pieces around you, but you also are responsible for making the players around you even better. That’s what Milwaukee has been trying to do. I think I have proven myself individually, but it is a matter of continuing to do that and get into the playoffs.
Clutch shooting
Calipari said in 2011: Here’s the thing that sets him apart: He wants to make game-winners. But more importantly, he’s not afraid to miss a game-winner. And you know in that league, how many times do you come down to the last two possessions? And then how many guys want the ball, and how many guys don’t want it? Not everybody wants the ball. Some guys, they’re jumping in cracks trying to hide.
Knight says now: I put the time and effort in. I have faith in myself so if I have a chance to be the one who takes those big shots, I want the ball and I really think I am going to make them. Because I know how much work I have put in. Why not take the shot? I am not afraid to miss it. I know I have the confidence to make it. If you miss it, you miss it. On to the next one. I’ve had some success with it lately, and there have been times when I haven’t had success. But when you work hard, you don’t mind taking those shots.
Knight’s work ethic
Calipari said in 2011: The biggest thing I can tell you, I’ve never been around — yeah, I’ve been around some that have worked as hard as him — but none of them have worked harder, and whatever you think he’s going to become, he’s going to become. … What would happen is, they’d be coming back from a road trip, and the dude would go right back to the practice facility and say, ‘I got to get this down,’ whatever it may be. He was in the gym at 11 o’clock at night.
Knight says now: I know what he is talking about. Whenever there is something I don’t like, I am going to want to go and work on it right away. Whether it be something that I wasn’t doing right, our team was not doing right — I want to look at it and find ways to address it immediately, even at night. Sometimes it happens right away and sometimes coaches would tell you, ‘Go home and forget about it,’ and you have to listen and know it takes time. But I am a perfectionist.
Other Calipari guards
Calipari said in 2011: He’s right there. I’ve had four of them, and two of them took my teams to Final Fours. One of them’s playing in Chicago, and Brandon’s the other.
Knight says now: I don’t mind being compared to the other point guards he has had. I enjoy being part of it, he has a really great tradition. I know it helped me as a player being under a coach that coached those type of guys, because he has seen what they can do and he wants you to get to that level, too. It was not like I had to be like Derrick Rose, I just had to try to get the most I could out of myself. I liked that situation.
Intelligence
Calipari said in 2011: This kid’s a straight-A student. A 4.0 his entire life. Sixty college credits, because he transferred in 23. He wants to come back and finish up — which he will, because I just know how he is.
Knight says now: Academics were important to me then. I came into Kentucky with a lot of credits from high school. Anything I am a part of, I want to do it the best I can do it. I try to be a perfectionist in all that I do, so I try to make straight As. … I will (finish his degree), at some point. I want to get this basketball thing settled first. Get comfortable, get a situation where I know I am concrete and can venture off a little bit into other things. I’m not there yet.
