They call him Ron Burgundy, cowboy, and occasionally when he steps to the free-throw line, "MVP."
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Yes, small-town Ron Baker is taking Madison Square Garden by storm much like Jeremy Lin did in 2012 but the Wichita State product isn't forgetting his roots despite the bright New York City lights.
All the small-town cliches, those are legit with me," Baker told Bleacher Report about growing up in Scott City, Kansas., a town of just under 4,000 people. His Knicks teammates often remind him that he's an "awe shucks" country boy.
"Sometimes when I walk into the locker room, Carmelo (Anthony) will start talking like a cowboy and be like, 'You from Kaaansaas, home of James Naaaaismith,'" Baker said with a drawl. "It's gotten more hysterical as I've gotten to know the guys."
Baker's trying to get to know the city as well despite not being near his usual wide-open spaces surrounded by wheat. He drives 45 minutes from White Plains to Madison Square Garden, trying not to get lost along the way.
"In Kansas, you base all directions on where the sun is — it's something you just naturally do," Baker said. "Here, sometimes you can't see the sun because of the buildings and I'll be like, 'I don't know where I am.'"
There have been other minor difficulties off the court for Baker as well.
"The first couple of times I pulled up to the MSG parking lot and told the security guard I was a player, the guy did a double time and seemed skeptical," Baker said.
"But now when they see my Hyundai Sonata roll in, they know who it is and that business is coming."
Despite being a walk-on at Wichita State and going undrafted in 2016, Baker has made multiple starts for the 22-29 Knicks this season. Hopefully the Knicks will let Baker stick around unlike Lin.