Knicks Sign Westchester Guard Zak Irvin

Michigan alum Zak Irvin replaces recently waived Amir Hinton on the preseason roster for an extended look.

The New York Knicks are signing 6-foot-6 shooting guard Zak Irvin, the team announced on Thursday. The 25-year-old Irvin has competed for the Westchester Knicks the past two seasons and becomes the 20th man on the maximized preseason roster the team can carry following the Knicks waiving Division II guard Amir Hinton this week.

Irvin went undrafted in 2017, later competing for the Miami Heat in that year’s Summer League before signing with New York’s G League affiliate franchise the Westchester Knicks, where he averaged 10.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 31.8 minutes per game, appearing in 42 total regular-season contests for the DubKnicks over two years.

The Knicks signed forward Zak Irvin. They waived Amir Hinton yesterday, opening up a contract spot. Irvin played 2 years in Westchester in the G League
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) October 17, 2019

The University of Michigan product, like the Knicks’ 2019 second-round draft pick Ignas Brazdeikis, also was invited to New York’s Summer League roster this past offseason, appearing in just 10 minutes over two games.

Irvin is likely heading back to the DubKnicks after the preseason—the Knicks have a single tune-up game remaining, against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, and none of the G League–ish players have checked in yet for David Fizdale—and his presence on the 20-man roster works to get an extended look at the swingman along with providing another body in practice for the coaching staff to evaluate.

The Knicks still have their second two-way contract to hand out, with one claimed by point guard Kadeem Allen. The other was voided by New York following a health scare to undrafted UCLA forward Kris Wilkes. The other seemingly White Plains bound players include Oregon big Kenny Wooten, Louisville small forward V.J. King, and Mississippi State floor general Lamar Peters. All three, along with Allen and Irvin (and Wilkes before his injury sidelined him), appeared on the Knicks’ Summer League team three months ago.

The Knicks’ first official game is on Wednesday, October 23rd against the San Antonio Spurs in Texas.

UPDATE: The Knicks have already waived Irvin.