Last Updated on July 28, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Kevin Knox is an athletic NBA forward whose floor spacing, transition scoring, and perimeter shooting have shaped his career with the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Portland Trail Blazers, and Golden State Warriors. His combo-forward archetype, long frame, and scoring versatility make him a developmental wing capable of filling complementary offensive roles across multiple systems.

Here is the detailed information about Kevin Knox, a professional NBA player:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Kevin DeVon Knox II
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born on August 11, 1999
  • Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 7 inches (201 cm)
  • Weight: 215 pounds (98 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet 0 inches (213 cm)
  • Shoe Size: Size 15 (US)
  • Number: Wore jersey numbers 20, 5, and 11
  • Position: Small Forward / Power Forward
  • High School: Tampa Catholic High School in Tampa, Florida
  • College: University of Kentucky (2017–2018)
  • NBA Draft: Selected in the 1st round (9th overall pick) in the 2018 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks
  • Teams Played For:
    • New York Knicks (2018–2022)
    • Atlanta Hawks (2022)
    • Detroit Pistons (2022–2023)
    • Portland Trail Blazers (2023)
  • Championship Rings: None in the NBA
  • Kids: Not publicly available
  • Siblings: Has three siblings

Player Archetype / Play Style

Kevin Knox’s player archetype is that of a scoring combo forward, a rangy wing who looks most natural attacking from the perimeter, filling lanes in transition, and working as a shot-making forward rather than a true interior big. Defensively, his role has typically been to guard either forward spot with length and mobility, using his frame and reach to contest wings and bigger scorers, though his impact has tended to depend on focus and consistency more than pure physical tools. Offensively, Knox profiles as a face-up scorer and secondary spacing option: he can attack closeouts, rise into jumpers, run the floor, and add value as a catch-and-shoot threat when his rhythm is there. Physically, he brings good NBA size for a forward at around 6-foot-9 with long arms and above-the-rim athleticism, and his overall play style is built around smooth movement, open-floor scoring, spot-up shooting, and slashing bursts that fit a modern stretch-forward mold more than a bruising half-court creator.

Scouting Report

Kevin Knox has always looked most comfortable when the game comes to him instead of being forced through him. The first thing you notice is how fluid he is running the floor. He fills the wings hard in transition, cuts decisively when defenders lose sight of him and can rise into catch-and-shoot jumpers without needing much preparation. His size gives him a clean release over smaller wings, and when he attacks a hard closeout he’s more effective taking one or two long strides to the rim than trying to string together complicated dribble moves. That’s where the trade-off appears. His straight-line drives can be productive, but his handle rarely creates consistent separation against set defenders, so possessions that require him to improvise late in the clock often lose momentum. The interesting thing is that his offensive value increases when he’s treated as a finisher rather than a creator. Give him movement, early offence, relocations around penetration and occasional post seals against smaller defenders, and he can quietly put points on the board without disrupting the flow. Defensively, the physical profile suggests more than the film consistently delivers. There are stretches where he slides well laterally, contests with his length and rotates from the weak side in time to challenge at the rim, but maintaining that focus over an entire game has been the bigger hurdle. I’ve always thought his off-ball defence tells the story more than his on-ball work. He can be a step late recognising actions developing behind him or lose shooters while tracking the ball, turning manageable possessions into unnecessary rotations for teammates. To me, Knox fits best in a structured offence with established creators where he can function as a complementary scoring forward instead of carrying primary shot-making responsibilities. His game shares similarities with Jeff Green in the way both rely on physical tools and opportunistic scoring when the offence is flowing, while there are also flashes of Marvin Williams as a floor-spacing forward whose effectiveness is tied to making quick decisions and embracing a supporting role rather than trying to manufacture offence possession after possession.

Notes:

  • Similar players to Kevin Knox include De’Andre Hunter and Taurean Prince.

Sources:

NBA Draft — Kevin Knox
Sports Illustrated — 2018 NBA Draft: Ranking Best Wings Available
Sports Illustrated — 2018 NBA Draft Big Board 3.0: Trae Young Continues Climb After Solid Start
Bleacher Report — Kevin Knox NBA Draft 2018: Scouting Report for New York Knicks Pick