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Knicks' Isaiah Roby Has Jackpot Opportunity in Summer League

New York Knicks forward Isaiah Roby provides a storyline to follow during Vegas Summer League play as he could find himself playing a viable role next season with Obi Toppin gone.

Kade Kimble

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On the final day of the 2022-23 NBA regular season, the New York Knicks signed power forward Isaiah Roby. 

Roby wasn't signed in time to be eligible for the playoffs. But the guaranteed $400,000 attached to the deal hinted that the Knicks had plans for the 25-year-old, formerly of the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, 

With his unofficial Knicks debut coming in Saturday's Summer League opener against Philadelphia (5 p.m. ET, MSG/NBA TV), fans will get a clearer idea as to what the team plans to do with him as a player. He has shown promise as a shooter, which is key for a power forward that stands at only 6-8. Considering his potentially prominent role in New York, reliable shooting will be a must, especially considering what's transpired so far this offseason. 

Since the Knicks traded Obi Toppin to the Indiana Pacers, there's a hole in the backup power forward position behind Julius Randle. For the time being, that spot is poised to be filled by Roby. 

One unique wrinkle with his game is his ability to be flexible in his role. During his time with the Thunder, he spent time playing small-ball center minutes. Again, he's 6-8, so he's certainly only playing center in smaller lineups, but he boasts a 230-lb. frame and can hold his own in the paint.

If he's destined to fill in for Toppin, Roby can take on the persona of a dunker. Sure, he's not going to be flying higher than Toppin, the 2022 Slam Dunk Contest champion, but he can sure put down some emphatic jams.

Summer League action could be a huge opportunity for Roby, as he can essentially secure a role with the Knicks as a backup if all goes well. As mentioned, he's got the tools needed for a potential 3&D guy. He can move well considering his size, and he's not afraid to get physical.

Having played in the league for four seasons with 151 regular season games under his belt, Roby will be a more established player at Summer League. That will allow him to stand out among the other, younger players showcasing their abilities. He's going to be a fun Summer League watch for that very reason and provides a good reason for Knicks fans to tune into the games.

Roby needs to put his size and athleticism together with his potential as a shooter and defender to declare himself as a lasting NBA prescience, which he has been unable to do yet. If he secures a backup role on a playoff team after working with rebuilding efforts in Oklahoma City and San Antonio, Roby has a prime opportunity to show that he is an NBA-level talent and can contribute to a winning program.

"He is really more skilled than I was expecting, and he’s a little bigger than I expected," Spurs head coach Greg Popovich said of Roby last fall, per Tom Osborne of San Antonio Express-News. "He moves well, really well for his size, and he has good athleticism, coordinated athleticism. He handles himself really well."

If nothing else, Roby will provide flexibility for the Knicks, and they will be able to switch things up and experiment with new lineup styles as they try and build off a season that saw them reach the second round in the NBA playoffs.

The former Nebraska Cornhusker has had a unique NBA path: he was drafted 45th overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, originally wearing the Detroit Pistons' draft cap. before a trade to the Dallas Mavericks a week later. Roby was later moved to the Oklahoma City Thunder midway through his rookie season, where he finally stuck.

Roby played just three games in the 2019-20 campaign but was able to get a feel for the NBA during his second season, picking up more playing time as the Thunder continued to sort through the post-Kevin Durant/Russell Westbrook era.

As that rebuild pushed forward, Roby would see a slight decrease in minutes but became more efficient: he upped his shooting percentage to 44 percent from beyond the arc and 51 percent from the field overall while averaging 10.1 points per game in 21.1 minutes per game. Though this would be Roby's last season in Oklahoma City, it was his most efficient and laid the groundwork for the road ahead

Roby found himself in another rebuild with San Antonio last season but struggled to carve out a consistent role. Playing 11.3 minutes per game, Roby wasn't too efficient and eventually was waived by the Spurs before the Knicks came calling at season's end. Granted a new opportunity in Las Vegas, the Knicks' upcoming five-game slate could perhaps make or break his NBA career.

You can follow Kade Kimble on Twitter @KadeKimble.

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Kade Kimble
KADE KIMBLE

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