Immanuel Quickley all the time has thought to be himself a combo guard, in a position to successfully working the offense from the purpose or enjoying off the ball.
Quickley used to be pressed into way more mins at level guard closing 12 months than he’d logged over his first two seasons with the Knicks, particularly with Derrick Rose sidelined after Dec. 16 following a couple of ankle surgical procedures and Kemba Walker’s departure from the workforce in February.
With the addition of $104 million unfastened agent Jalen Brunson as the place to begin guard and the go back of the 34-year-old Rose to the second one unit, alternatively, Quickley’s versatility items Knicks trainer Tom Thibodeau with added flexibility to mix’n’match his rotation combos within the backcourt.
“He’s both. … I look at Quick as a combo guard, and when you analyze the point guards in our league, they’re all different,” Thibodeau mentioned after the Knicks held an open observe for make a selection lovers Sunday at Columbia. “There’s extra scoring level guards than ever, so you need a mix of each.
“Derrick is a power point guard, and Quick is good coming off catch-and-shoot. He did a lot of that in college [at Kentucky], but he was a point guard in high school. So he’s comfortable playing both.”
With beginning capturing guard Evan Fournier rested and backup Quentin Grimes sidelined for a 2nd immediately preseason recreation with a foot damage, Thibodeau hired 3 guards in combination from time to time on the second one unit in Friday’s win over Indiana with Quickley, Rose and rapid Miles McBride along bigs Obi Toppin and Isaiah Hartenstein.
“Any of us can bring the ball up to start the offense,” Quickley mentioned Sunday of the three-guard alignment. “It’s 3 playmakers at the flooring immediately, and defensively I believe such as you don’t lose the rest, as smartly. I believe like we’re all in reality excellent defenders.
“We can just create for each other, get in the lane, create offense, score the ball, create for our teammates. So I feel like it works in all facets.”
After completing closing season averaging 11.3 issues and three.5 assists in 23.1 mins in keeping with recreation, the 23-year-old Quickley has mentioned that he added muscle to his higher frame over the summer season.
Asked the place he’s spotted the largest distinction at the courtroom, Quickley answered, “I feel defensively is definitely one, finishing around the basket, and just having legs on my jump shot. I want to have a great year defensively, a higher field-goal percentage and just being more consistent. Being stronger I feel is going to help on both sides of the court.”
Quickley added that he’s “learned so much” right through his time as teammates with Rose, a former league MVP with the Bulls as a 22-year-old in 2010-11.
“He’s somebody that I looked up to when I was younger, I watched his game a lot. Youngest MVP [in league history]. So you can learn a lot from guys like that,” Quickley mentioned. “He’s one of the most best possible avid gamers in our league, with numerous enjoy. So it’s nice to be informed from any person like that.
“His pace, how the game is slow for him. All types of things. He’s been in the league for a minute, so he’s meant a lot to me.”
Quickley additionally has been selecting the mind of and construction a courting with Brunson, the previous Maverick who landed a four-year deal price $104 million in July.
“Obviously, everybody sees everything he does on the floor, but I feel like leader-wise, he’s somebody in the huddle who’s very vocal and very positive,” Quickley mentioned. “I actually went to his house [Saturday] night and we just kicked it. So he’s somebody you can talk to off the floor, too, chill with. He’s gonna be great for this team.”