Knicks coach David Fizdale is falling for guard Ron Baker in the same way ex-Knick president Phil Jackson and former coach Jeff Hornacek once did.
If there was doubt Baker had his 15-man roster spot sewn up, it may have been erased the moment he hit the deck for a loose ball in Brooklyn Wednesday. While prone, Baker fed a bounce pass ahead for Isiah Hicks for a fastbreak dunk. Fizdale was jubilant on the sidelines, reaching onto the court to slap Baker on the back.
He’s come up with a share of hustle plays during fourth-quarter stints (he’s shooting 75 percent) that secured three Knicks’ preseason wins. Fizdale has noticed his calmness amid chaos.
“In intense moments, I can play scrappy but remain even keeled,’’ Baker told The Post. “It’s a havoc mindset. Its a type of game I’m used to playing. I played like that in college. (Wichita State) coach (Gregg) Marshall, he wanted us to play like your hair is on fire.’’
Undrafted in 2016, Baker has plenty of hair – which prompted Carmelo Anthony to nickname him “Ron Burgundy’’ his rookie year.
Baker earned cult-hero status that first season, with Hornacek going ga-ga over his “doppleganger.’’
However, Baker suffered through a severe sophomore jinx in 2017-18, his season ending in late January with a torn left shoulder labrum soon after he recovered from a broken orbital bone. With Hornacek fired and Fizdale in power, speculation existed on whether he’d make the team despite a guaranteed final year worth $4.5 million.
It looks like it now.
“Fiz is all about hustle and hard work,’’ Baker said. “You can see that from his emotions on the court. He loves when players do the little things. That’s why I’m here.”
Fizdale doesn’t refer to Baker a lot – as Jackson and Hornacek used to do, but the new coach appears sold.
“He’s a tough S.O.B.,’’ Fizdale said. “He’s a team guy. He’s smart as heck. He’s smart in chaos. A lot of guys can’t hit, grab, scratch, claw and be halfway in a fight and still be very clear in the mind and being able to execute. He’s really been doing a great job for us. I won’t hesitate to throw him in a game, to change up some things. The way he defends, the way he can take people out, I think he’s a luxury to have.”
Baker will need to improve his 3-point shooting, especially from the corner, to get more than spot playing time. But it doesn’t seem he’s getting cut to make room for surging undrafted Arizona guard Allonzo Trier.
Trier is on a two-way G League contract, but the Knicks can wait until early-to-mid-December before ripping it up for a 15-man spot. That date would mark 45 days on the Knicks roster. The clock starts ticking when the G League training camp commences Oct. 26.
“I’m feel very happy with my situation here,’’ Baker said. “I really like the type of culture Fiz has brought into to the team. He’s really good at relaying to guys how to do things. He gets the best out of his players. We have lot of talented players. It’s a long year and I’m always going to be ready when Fiz needs me and help the team best I can.’’
Baker wasn’t cleared for full contact scrimmages until mid-August and the shoulder isn’t a total afterthought. He calls it “100 percent” but admitted to “little issues here and there getting loose’’, and also maintaining the shoulder’s strength. It’s an extra challenge for Baker to enter in the final period after sitting for three quarters.
He’ll also attempt to avoid daredevil plays like when he raced back to try to block Anthony Davis’ dunk and got his face broken. He tore his shoulder after getting entangled with Nets’ DeMarre Carroll.
“There’s definitely a fine line of being aggressive,’’ Baker said. “You can’t be bulldozing into screens and putting yourself in situations where you’re over-the-top-chaotic.”
Baker credits Hornacek for instilling in him confidence he can make it in the NBA – just like the overlooked former Knicks coach made it.
“Jeff and I, our stories are very similar,’’ Baker said. “A lot of times when he was coaching me, there was stuff I could relate to, things he went through. There was a connection we had when he’s showing things on offense and defense.
“Obviously he’s not here and Fiz is our guy and I’m really loving Fiz right now. A player’s guy and loves being here every day. It makes our job fun and less stressful.’’
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