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New York Knicks: Jeff Hornacek Praises Doppelgänger Ron Baker

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:01 p.m. ET

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New York Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek sees similarities between himself and rookie combo guard Ron Baker. Find out what the former All-Star had to say.

The New York Knicks received an unexpected opportunity on the night of the 2016 NBA Draft. Despite being projected as a potential second-round draft pick, Wichita State Shockers star Ron Baker went undrafted.

It was mere minutes after the 2016 NBA Draft for the Knicks’ decision to sign Baker to be reported.

The 23-year-old stood out at the Orlando Summer League and continued to shine during the preseason. His minutes have been erratic during the regular season, but he’s impressed during his limited action.

According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, Hornacek compared Baker to himself when he and Phil Jackson informed the rookie that he’d made the main roster.

For those who are unfamiliar with what Hornacek accomplished as a player, that’s high praise.

Hornacek made an All-Star Game appearance and won two 3-point shootout competitions on All-Star Weekend. Shooting didn’t come easy to Hornacek, who played college ball during an era before the 3-point shot was officially introduced.

Hornacek famously taped his thumb in order to learn no habits for a more efficient shooting touch.

Hornacek went on to become one of the best 3-and-D combo guards in the NBA, and made two NBA Finals and five Western Conference Finals appearances.

Baker is a long way from achieving that notoriety, but he has the potential to become that type of player. Much like Hornacek, he’s lacks the athleticism that most look for when attempting to find a high-quality perimeter defender.

Also like Hornacek, Baker has already proven to be a capable on-ball defender who can close out on shooters and keep slashers in front of him.

Hornacek’s best season was in 1991-92, when he averaged 20.1 points, 5.1 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 1.0 3-point field goals made per game. He did so on a remarkable slash line of .512/.439/.886.

It’s unfair to put the burden of averaging those numbers on Baker, but the point remains that he’s quite similar to Hornacek in terms of playing style and profile.

Like Hornacek, Baker has the strength and agility to defend at a high level and the shooting range to stretch the floor. He’s also capable of facilitating the offense and helping orchestrate a crisp flow to the offense.

Per Berman, Hornacek publicly acknowledged that aspect of Baker’s game.

That’s an undeniably intriguing strength.

For those who missed it, Baker scored a career-high 13 points in 23 minutes against Stephen Cury and the Golden State Warriors. He added three assists and two rebounds, shot 6-of-7 from the field, and made a 3-point field goal.

Baker had just four points in 12 minutes the next time out, but added five rebounds and an assists in a solid performance.

The Hornacek comparison may be ambitious, but there are similarities that the coach himself can see.

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