LOS ANGELES — Since Kemba Walker handed in his resignation for the season during the All-Star break, Alec Burks has been reappointed as the Knicks’ starting point guard, even though he’s playing out of position.
It became a controversial move, with the fan base dying to see more of rookie Miles McBride running the show. Or even Immanuel Quickley, the backup point guard.
The Knicks are 0-4 since, after a gut-wrenching buzzer-beating loss Friday in Phoenix. Burks, a natural swingman, hasn’t really been the playmaker the offense could use.
Burks even suffered a letdown at one of his strengths, free-throw shooting, when he missed one of two free throws with 5.9 seconds left, to set up Cam Johnson’s game-winning 3. But he scored 15 points with six assists.
“We let one slip away,’’ said Burks, who rarely talks to the media. “We did a lot of great things. I made a lot more than I missed. On to the next one.’’
Burks, whom the Knicks entertained dealing to the Lakers at the trade deadline to open cap space, shrugs off the new role.
In late November when he officially demoted Walker, coach Tom Thibodeau also turned to Burks as starting point guard, wanting more size. The Knicks posted a mediocre 2-7 record during those nine games.
“I think the way our offense runs, anyone can play point,’’ Burks said. “We have position-less plays. This just has me doing it now.’’
With Derrick Rose still on the shelf after another ankle procedure, point guard has been a nemesis. Thibodeau said after the loss at Philadephia on Wednesday about his point guard situation: “It’s the best we got.’’
Sunday versus the Clippers (34-31), the Knicks will meet another 2021 free-agent point guard they could’ve hauled in — Reggie Jackson — who is having a good year on a new two-year, $21 million contract.
The reeling Knicks are now 13 games under .500 with 19 to play after finishing 41-31 last season.
“Every season is different,’’ Burks said. “As long as you keep getting better every day, wins and losses are going to be where they are. That’s how I look at it.’’
In fairness, Thibodeau turned to McBride for eight minutes of spot duty in Phoenix. But “Deuce’’ was off the ball, paired with Quickley, and made no impact on offense as a result, rarely getting a touch and making no shot attempts.
“We did a lot of great things to win the game — we just didn’t do enough,’’ Burks said.
Thibodeau served a few years on Team USA with retiring Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who coached his final home game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Saturday. Thibodeau marveled at his leadership — something the Knicks coach needs to summon right now.
“It was an honor and a privilege to be part of his staff,’’ Thibodeau said. “Just to see the way he communicated, the way he motivated. His leadership. I would say the leadership is the biggest thing.
“Just special, special. He had obviously great intelligence, great street sense, just a terrific leader.” When you combine [West Point] with where he’s from — Chicago, his story, his parents. To make it to where he did is pretty special. He’s got incredible humility for a guy who’s achieved so much’ ’’