Knicks’ new point guard, Derrick Rose, sat down for dinner at the team’s hotel in Miami on Monday evening to talk to his two rookies – Immanuel Quickley and Obi Toppin.
“He just emphasized me – first he gave me his number – said everything I needed, just hit him,” said Quickley op Zoom after Tuesday morning’s shootaround. ‘But he kind of sat down with me, me and Obi actually, just told us he’s here to help us, he’s here to help us grow and things like that. It’s good to have a chance to talk to him last night. “
Quickley and the veteran Rose have one thing in common: they shared the same coach in college in John Calipari.
Now Rose, who played for “Cal” in Memphis, and Quickley will compete for Tom Thibodeau’s affection as the Knicks to throw Rose into the squad.
Quickley said he didn’t think Rose would make his debut against the Heat on Tuesday, but added he wasn’t 100 percent sure.
Since the Super Bowl Sunday trade with Detroit, social media has erupted with concerns that Rose’s arrival will steal minutes from Quickley, a fan favorite who averages 18 minutes a night. Rose is expected to come off the couch.
However, Quickley was quick to say that he ‘admires’ Rose, will learn from the 2011 MVP, and that they are versatile enough to play together in the same backcourt.
“We both played for the same coach at university. So we shared some similar experiences there, playing for a tough coach, ”said Quickley. And then we get Coach Thib’s rookie year. So many similarities. I get a chance to choose his brain, something I like to do is ask a lot of questions and take notes and give feedback and all those things. So it should be good. “
Left unsaid, this could be competition for Quickley, 21, to fully spread his wings, given that Thibodeau was pushing for the trade. Thibodeau coached Rose in Chicago and Minnesota, and they have a special relationship.
“I have no idea how it will end,” said Quickley. “I let the coaches handle all of that. But as far as I am concerned, I know that I am a versatile player. That’s something that I emphasized for the design, that I can play on or off the ball. So since I can just be that type of player I can fit into any system in any way. “I feel like he is also a versatile player, I just watch him play. He can shoot it, get into the job and create. And then as for defense, I feel like we can both defend too. So just being versatile players on and off the ball I feel like it gives us an advantage. “
Quickley was 11 when Rose won the MVP award with Thibodeau as his coach. Rose, who was not made available to the media, said in a Knicks video that he is here to “help the young players”.
Quickley hopes this will happen and enjoyed his first conversation with Rose.
“A 13-year veteran of the league, anytime you can get the chance to pick someone’s brain that has been through pretty much everything – playoffs, everything, right down to MVP. It is always a good opportunity to learn from someone with experience, ”said Quickley. “He’s the best teacher insofar as he takes his brains through everything he knows about the game. It’s something I’m looking forward to. “
Quickley, which was selected 25th in November after being projected as a second round, was the Knicks’ biggest revelation after Julius Randle’s All-Star campaign. He came from Kentucky with concerns he might be an undersized shooter.
The Knicks are impressed, but still don’t consider Quickley a full-fledged point guard due to his raw playing skills.
Known for its floater and Stephen Curry-esque long 3-second, Quickley averages 12 points and shoots 36.3 percent from 3-point land and 93 percent from the free-throw line.
“They feel like when I’m at my best, I’m aggressive, want to score first and then create for my teammates,” said Quickley.
Rose was not made available to the media because Dennis Smith Jr., involved in the trade, had not yet taken his physical for the Pistons.