How Quentin Grimes could be Knicks’ X-factor for 2023-24 NBA season

The Knicks enter the new season with approximately the same roster as they ended last season, effectively betting on internal development and chemistry to raise the team’s ceiling. Many are looking at their core pieces – Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle – along with their top-flight prospects – RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley – to step up and take the franchise to a new level.

But perhaps their biggest X-factor this year will be Quentin Grimes, the third-year man taken deep in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft that emerged as a starter-quality 3-and-D wing in 2023. His steady presence helped secure a fifth-seed finish after playing sparingly in his rookie campaign, and at just 23 years old, there’s plenty of room to grow.

Grimes averaged 11.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in the regular season, shooting 64.1 percent from two and 38.6 percent from three. While extremely efficient, he was mostly limited to catch-and-shoot threes and transition or closeout attacks from two.

Having a second-year player who can spot up and still make plays off the dribble while defending the best opposing scorer on a nightly basis is nothing to scoff at, but Grimes has shown he’s capable of more. Prior to his NBA days, Grimes was a top-ten recruit out of high school and 17.8 points per game volume scorer his final year at Houston.

Fans have been waiting for that more explosive Grimes to return, even as far back as his scorching Draft Combine performances. We started seeing signs of it in New York last season.

Grimes doesn’t have the fanciest dribble moves but has a lightning first step that he used to drive 3.5 times a night, resulting in 55.3 percent shooting and the highest assist percentage in the rotation. He’s sneakily bouncy, has a good touch and isn’t afraid of contact, on top of having a knack for interior passing, suggesting he should boost his driving volume.

When he finds and…