New York Knicks

Knicks rookie Jerian Grant has predictably hit the rookie wall

Published Nov. 25, 2015 3:20 p.m. ET

foxsports

While one Knicks rookie is tearing New York apart, the other one has already hit the rookie wall. Jerian Grant got off to a hot start to his first pro season, but he's been sizzling ever since.

Marc Berman chronicled some of the Notre Dame product's struggles at the New York Post:

Grant averaged 8.5 points and 3.8 assists per game over the Knicks first four contests of the season. He shot 54 percent from the field during that stretch.

Ever since, his play has been a problem. He's shooting just 25 percent from the field and is averaging a mere 5.0 points and 2.5 assists. He's made just 1-of-16 threes during that period, one which included a streak of 14 consecutive misses.

This is normal behavior for a rookie, though, especially one drafted outside of the lottery. Grant still has a promising career ahead of him. He's a good athlete who sees the floor well, though the lack of a jump shot may always plague him. Still, rookies are rarely every consistent players. The rookie wall should've been expected all along for Grant. Now is time for him to adjust.

The 23-year-old Grant had started the season with a bang, providing great pace, defensive energy and penetrating ability. But teams are laying off him now, knowing his shooting range is suspect. For the season, he’s shooting just 11.4 percent from 3-point land and his first trey attempt Monday looked like a wounded duck. Overall Grant’s shooting percentage is 34 percent, inflated by the layups he gets.

Grant’s slump is going on two weeks now. Fisher recently said Grant will have to make teams pay for going under screens by hitting jumpers.

“People watch us play, the same way we watch them play,” Fisher said. “Some guys have made adjustments to how they’re defending him. He’ll learn how to still do what he does best in terms of getting penetration.’’

Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said in August that Grant would’ve been a top-5 pick if he had a better jump shot. One scout recently said he doesn’t foresee Grant as a starter on a winning team, looking at him more as a good career backup.