After five seasons with the Guangdong team, during which he played in 171 games and averaged 22.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game, Marshon Brooks has finally left the team. Throughout his tenure with Guangdong, Marshon accumulated a total of 3,888 points, 994 rebounds, and 826 assists, making him a true contributor to the team's success.
However, time waits for no one, and age has caught up with Marshon. Following his Achilles tendon rupture, he has aged rapidly, and his offensive prowess is no longer as sharp or lethal as it once was. This season, Marshon represented Guangdong in 39 games, averaging only 12.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game in 18 minutes of playtime, marking career lows across the board. Zhu Fangyu, the general manager of the Guangdong Southern Tigers, openly stated that the decision to part ways with Marshon was primarily due to concerns over his age and offensive efficiency.
Despite the confusion and speculation surrounding the timing of Guangdong's decision to release Marshon, the team has been transparent about its intentions. They have made it clear that they are seeking a more impactful foreign player to replace him, and this statement holds true.
According to media personality Xue Sijia, "Sources reveal that after amicably terminating their contract with Marshon Brooks, the Guangdong Southern Tigers are interested in signing Nathan Knight, an interior player who previously played for NBA teams such as the Atlanta Hawks and Minnesota Timberwolves." It turns out that Guangdong had already identified a potential replacement for Marshon and was eager to secure a new foreign player.
Nathan Knight, at 26 years old and in his prime, stands at 203 centimeters tall. Although not exceptionally tall, Knight has consistently played as a center. During his college days, he averaged an impressive 20.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in the paint.
Knight signed a two-way contract with the Atlanta Hawks before moving on to a two-year deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves. This season, he signed two-way contracts with both the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics but did not receive any playing time. It is evident that over the past few years, despite being repeatedly sought after, Knight has not been given significant opportunities in the NBA, resulting in frequent releases from teams.
Notably, Knight had an outstanding performance against the Celtics, scoring 20 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, dishing out 4 assists, making 1 steal, and blocking 1 shot. These statistics represent career highs for Knight, demonstrating that he is not without potential and can occasionally deliver explosive performances, especially considering his achievement came against the Celtics.
Throughout his NBA career, Knight has played in a total of 108 games, averaging only 7.8 minutes per game, contributing 3.7 points and 2 rebounds. His field goal percentage stands at 47.6%, and his three-point shooting percentage is 26.5%. However, this season in the G League, Knight's shooting percentage has reached 49%, with a three-point shooting percentage of 33%. If Knight can maintain this level of performance in the CBA, it would be remarkable. It is worth noting that Knight excels in rebounding, which is urgently needed by the Guangdong team. With Knight's addition, the Guangdong Southern Tigers will undoubtedly sound the charge for the championship.