In Defense of Alec Burks: The Worst Point Guard in the NBA

Alec Burks has become the butt of Knicks fans’ jokes recently as he’s been tasked with being the starting point guard following the exile of Kemba Walker and Derrick Rose’s ankles evaporating. The Knicks have been on a downward spiral and Burks running the offense is directly related to that downfall.

Let’s look at the brilliant performance he put together against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night:

9 points
2-for-11 shooting
1-for-4 from 3
4 assists
3 fouls
-14 +/-
31 minutes

Siiiick.

Here is a fun stat to make your eyes roll out of your skull: During the Knicks current 6-game losing streak, Burks has a -52 plus-minus. It’s the worst plus-minus in the ENTIRE NBA during that stretch. And for some reason, he is never not on the floor doing god knows what.

Burks is a role player being tasked with not only starting every game now but also playing a position he has no business playing. Not sure why he’s even being asked to play point guard considering every pass that leaves his hands looks like he’s tossing a weakly inflated balloon.

But I have to defend my guy here. None of this is his fault.

So who is to blame for this Alec Burks nonsense?

Throughout his entire coaching career, Tom Thibodeau has picked favorite players he rides to their deathbeds. There is no other team in the NBA willing to pay 36-year-old Taj Gibson $5 million to play basketball. But Gibson and Thibs are besties so he’ll play more minutes than younger and far more athletic players like Jericho Sims.

Sure, Derrick Rose is injured but are we to believe Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes and Duece McBride are incapable of entering the starting 5? Reminder: Alec Burks has literally been the worst player in the NBA and Thibs refuses to even TRY something different.

There is no fucking chance of the Knicks making the playoffs this season yet Thibs is still coaching like they’re battling for seeding when they should be finding out which young player has a chance to be a true difference-maker for this franchise.

But as much shit as I’m ready to talk about Coach Thibs, this isn’t his fault either.

Alec Burks shouldn’t be on this roster.

It is absolutely unacceptable for Burks to even be on this roster right now. The front office blew it with their inability to work the trade deadline and move on from guys like Kemba Walker, Evan Fournier and Alec Burks.

Yes, Burks is one of the worst point guards in Knicks history but he shouldn’t even be tasked with playing point guard for the Knicks. He should be coming off the bench and getting buckets for a team preparing for the postseason. This team is atrocious. Free Alec Burks.