Knicks Rumors: Tom Thibodeau Has 'Crush' on Isaac Okoro Ahead of NBA Draft

New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau has reportedly developed a "crush" on Auburn forward Isaac Okoro ahead of the 2020 NBA draft on Wednesday night.

Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer reported Thibodeau and Okoro have bonded over their "shared passion for defense," which will put the Tigers standout in firm contention when the Knicks are on the clock with the eighth pick.

Okoro is right there with Illawarra Hawks guard LaMelo Ball and Maccabi Tel Aviv forward Deni Avdija in terms of the 2020 class' most well-rounded prospects.

The 19-year-old Atlanta native averaged 12.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 51.4 percent from the floor across 28 appearances in his only collegiate season. He also posted a plus-2.5 defensive box plus/minus, per Sports Reference.

His well-built 6'6", 225-pound frame combined with high-end athleticism will give him the ability to defend multiple positions ranging from guards to stretch 4 forwards.

If Okoro is going to transform into a true superstar in the modern NBA, he must improve his outside shot. He connected on just 28.6 percent of his 70 three-point attempts at Auburn, but he told reporters last week his jumper has come a long way since his time with the Tigers ended in March:

"I would say during the college season it was probably like a C-plus. But I feel like right now I've been working every day just putting up a lot of shots and I feel like right now it's around a B-plus [or] A.

"Just taking more time with my jump shot, just being more fluid with it. Just learning how to get the ball higher. During the college season I shot a lot of flat balls, so I'm just learning right now to shoot that high and get a higher arc on it."

Okoro would fit nicely in the Knicks' projected starting lineup as the small forward, with RJ Barrett and Elfrid Payton in the backcourt and a frontcourt of Mitchell Robinson and Julius Randle.

It wouldn't put New York on a championship-contention level, but it would be the team's most formidable starting group in years with the potential for further offseason improvement.