One day Immanuel Quickley does not get off the bench. A week later, he is a fan favorite, the alleged answer to Knicks point guard problems.
It happened quickly for the team’s second pick in the first round. Five impressive pre-season quarters and the team’s avid fan base seem to be in love with him.
He’s been noticed.
“It was really cool to see,” Quickley said on Monday after training about Zoom. Just a blessing, thank God for the chance to be in New York and be a Knick. …. I am happy to be there. “
After helping the Knicks get past the Cavaliers in their third exhibition game, the 6-foot-3 guard starred in the final as a starter, scoring 22 points and adding five assists and five steals in a blowout from the Cavs . After that game, coach Tom Thibodeau said that Quickley had a chance to be the starter if he continued to perform, adding that he got the opportunity because of his strong work in practice.
It still seems likely that Quickley will come off the bench against the Pacers in the opener on Wednesday as the backup to veteran Elfrid Payton. Payton started the first three games of the preseason and was out in the fourth with a minor hamstring problem. Thibodeau did not want to reveal his starters, although he did say that performance will trump the experience, as he said during the preseason.
“Everything is based on merit,” said the freshman coach of Knicks. “You evaluate the practice, who practices well, you continue with the games, you take that information. If someone practices well, that’s important to us, and then if you have your preseason games, if they play well and the team functions well when they’re on the ground, that’s important too. You play against the people who you think will give you the best chance of winning. “
It’s been two wild months for the former Kentucky star and SEC Player of the Year. On draft night, he was a surprise roster of the Knicks in the first round, finishing 25th overall, despite being projected in the middle of the second round. Expectations were low. He didn’t even get off the bench in the preseason opener and played nine mediocre minutes in the second game.
In the third game, Quickley earned credit for taking a comeback victory with nine points and seven assists in 24 minutes, and got the start in the fourth and final game of the preseason with Payton out.
“I don’t think he surprised us,” Payton said. ‘We know he is talented. … It’s not really surprising. “
Quickley pointed to two factors for his seamless transition after waiting so long, from March to October, to find out where he would play.
The players he competes with for minutes, Payton, Frank Ntilikina and Dennis Smith Jr., have provided guidance. They all helped him.
The other factor is the two years he spent in Kentucky. He was pushed daily by coach John Calipari and his staff. Minutes had to be earned.
“I’m looking forward to coming out of Kentucky,” said Quickley, “I really have a head start in the transition to the NBA.”
How much of an edge remains to be seen. The matches really start on Wednesday. At the very least, Quickley has been given the opportunity to prove he can contribute.