The New York Knicks have decided to keep Precious Achiuwa for another year with a $6 million contract, as reported by Adrian Wojnarowski.
Knicks’ Trade for Achiuwa
Achiuwa, who will turn 25 on September 19, joined the Knicks last season through a trade with the Raptors involving OG Anunoby. He quickly became an important player in New York’s lineup.
Last season, Achiuwa played in 74 games (18 as a starter) between the Raptors and Knicks. He averaged 7.6 points per game and hit career highs with 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage was 50.1%, but he struggled from beyond the arc at just 26.8%.
For the Knicks specifically, he maintained his average of 7.6 points but improved his rebounds to 7.2 per game while also contributing with blocks and assists during his time on the court.
Breaking: Precious Achiuwa has agreed on a one-year, $6 million deal to return to the Knicks, his agent tells @wojespn.
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA)
Coach Thibodeau’s Thoughts
“With Isaiah [Hartenstein] showing us great potential and then Precious joining in, we saw qualities we liked,” said Coach Tom Thibodeau after Achiuwa scored a season-high of 23 points on February 14th.
“That’s why we traded for him; he’s given us more options and versatility on the court,” Thibodeau added. “He can play both forward and center positions effectively.”
Playoff Performance
Achiuwa stepped up during playoffs when injuries hit hard, even starting twice in critical games. In Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Indiana Pacers, he scored an impressive 12 points with efficient shooting.
A Versatile Player
Despite being solid defensively, shooting remains Achiuwa’s weak spot. However, his defensive skills shone brightly last season as he protected the paint and grabbed offensive rebounds aggressively.
The Knicks can use him either as a forward or center due to his sizeโstanding at six-foot-eight inches tall and weighing in at around 225 poundsโwhich adds depth to their roster that includes Mitchell Robinson and Jericho Sims among others like Julius Randle and Josh Hart.
We think fans are excited about this re-signing.
A Look Back at His Career
This upcoming season will be Achiuwaโs fifth in the NBA since being drafted by Miami Heat as their first-round pick back in 2020 out of Memphis University before moving onto Toronto after one year there before landing eventually here now within New York City itself!
