Michigan Basketball: Ignas Brazdeikis is perfect for the Knicks

Former Michigan basketball standout, Ignas Brazdeikis, was drafted 47th overall by the New York Knicks in the 2019 NBA draft.

When it comes to Ignas Brazdeikis and destinations in the NBA, there are few places that fit the former Michigan basketball star better than New York.

After all, Iggy loved the bright lights while in Ann Arbor and it doesn’t get much brighter than Broadway and the Big Apple, which is where Iggy will play next season after the Knicks orchestrated a deal that landed the Big Ten Freshman of the Year with the 47th overall pick.

Brazdeikis was the second Michigan basketball player picked Thursday night. Jordan Poole, who entered the draft after his sophomore season, went to Golden State with the 28th pick, giving the Wolverines their eighth first-round pick since 2011.

By the time the Knicks drafted Iggy, by way of the Sacramento Kings, Michigan had a total of 11 players drafted since 2011, which shows how good John Beilein was at developing talent.

While Iggy will be a great fit for New York because of his personality, his game should fit well in New York too. He has a long way to go and there is a decent chance he spends some time in the G-League next season, but he has some great skills scoring the ball and is a solid rebounder.

At 6-foot-7 and change, his size might be a slight detriment, as he is a bit of a tweener, but in today’s NBA, he could probably get by at times as a stretch four. He also shoots the ball well enough to play on the wing and has decent athleticism, although his defense isn’t necessarily a strength.

Iggy averaged 14.8 PPG last season for Michigan basketball and knocked down 39.2 percent of his 3-point attempts, even though he was inconsistent at times.

New York is a really open situation and Brazdeikis will join fellow Canadian RJ Barrett of Duke, who went to the Knights with the third overall pick. The two have played on the national team together and this will reunite them.

It will also bring a Michigan basketball player back to the Big Apple. Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. were traded from the team last season after they both helped turn around their careers with the franchise.

Like Poole, Iggy has tremendous upside. He also was highly productive in college, particularly when it came to scoring and rebounding. It will be fun to watch his development in the NBA, especially playing at Madison Square Garden.