The New York Knicks have done it again. On Saturday October 27, 2012, the Knicks signed forward Chris Copeland to a one-year rookie minimum contract. Last season, the Knicks found gems in Jeremy Lin and Steve Novak. Copeland is their latest discovery, and I am relieved that they kept him around. In fact, I have been waiting to give Copeland a nickname. I have been waiting to call him "The Predator".
Let me be clear. I am a huge fan of Copeland. I followed him throughout the summer league and preseason. Copeland can flat out play. And when I watch him play, I think of the alien from the movie Predator (1987). But I say this with the utmost respect and admiration for Copeland. The Predator was a villain in the film, but its awe-inspiring powers made it a hero to many. Copeland will be that hero for the Knicks and their fans this season.
Copeland physically looks like the Predator. At six-foot-eight, he is tall and menacing on the court. His dreadlocks mimic the Predator's features, but Copeland is by no means ugly like the alien. When Copeland plays, it's like the Predator hunting those men in the jungle. He is fearsome, aggressive, calculated and talented.
Just like the Predator, Copeland came to the Knicks from a foreign land. He played the last two years in Belgium, averaging 18.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Copeland was in the background, waiting for his moment to strike. Now the NBA will be wondering where he came from, just like the Predator.
The Predator has powerful abilities such as thermal imaging, cloaking and weaponry. Copeland is just as dynamic. Copeland can score in a variety of ways. He can score from long-range or in the low-post. He can drive to the basket and run the pick-and-roll. He can defend. And I there may be even more to Copeland's game. We are still studying him.
Copeland still has to prove himself in a real NBA game, but I think he definitely deserves a nickname. If we can have "The Birdman" and "Big Baby", we can certainly have The Predator. Copeland is here. And like the Predator, he is going to make some noise.
More from this contributor:
Where Will the New York Knicks Finish in the Atlantic Division? A Fan's Take
Five Signs that Jeremy Lin Will Have a Forgettable Season: A Fan's Take
Edwin Torres was born in New York City. He has been a Knicks fan since the early 1980s. He has visited Madison Square Garden on many occasions to watch the Knicks and his favorite player, Patrick Ewing. For more articles, follow him on Twitter @FlipPoker.
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