Quentin Grimes earned Tom Thibodeau’s trust but isn’t starting yet

Starting is a purpose for Quentin Grimes. As he mentioned Monday, “Everybody wants to be a starter.” And it’s going to occur in the end for the Knicks guard. Maybe even this season.

But after sitting out maximum of coaching camp with a foot damage, Grimes said he ignored a possibility to outduel Evan Fournier for the taking pictures guard spot.

“[Coach Tom Thibodeau] said you have to come in and earn it,” Grimes mentioned. “That’s what I kinda expected coming into training camp, but then I kinda got hurt, so it derailed that.

“But I felt like [Fournier] earned it. He was the guy that had it coming in. I had to prove myself. I didn’t get the opportunity to do that.”

Grimes returned to complete follow Monday and may just make his preseason debut Wednesday in Indiana. The sore foot, which Grimes downplayed as “wear and tear,” had sidelined him for roughly two weeks.

In the interim, Tom Thibodeau declared Fournier because the frontrunner to begin at taking pictures guard. It used to be moderately unexpected given the opportunity of Grimes’ protection meshing higher with level guard Jalen Brunson.

But Fournier’s standing (he’s an 11-year vet in the midst of a $54 million contract) and his three-point talent (he set the franchise report for treys ultimate season) carried Thibodeau’s determination.

There’s a complete season to re-examine. Whether a starter or reserve, Grimes will play a vital function. He has earned the appreciation of Thibodeau, who, in step with a supply, used to be a significant component in drafting Grimes ultimate 12 months with the twenty fifth select.

At ultimate season’s business time limit, the entrance place of job confident Grimes he wasn’t being shopped.

“My name was in the trade rumors last year at the trade deadline, they called me and were like, ‘Thibs love you. …We love your work ethic,’” Grimes mentioned.

More just lately, the Knicks reportedly withheld Grimes of their business negotiations for Donovan Mitchell.

“Just having that trust and that belief in you goes a long way with your confidence,” Grimes mentioned. “When you go out there on the court and know they believe in you and they’re putting everything into you and they’re not worried about somebody coming in for instant success. They kind of really put in a lot of belief in you, so I feel like that kind of goes a long way with how I just see things in the future with the Knicks and everybody, really.”

Still, Grimes’ NBA good fortune is most commonly only a projection at this level. Theoretical. He carried out smartly as a starter ultimate season — together with a two-game stretch averaging 19.5 issues — but quickly suffered a knee damage and not re-entered the lineup.

Grimes then shined in Summer League because the Knicks’ most sensible playmaker, which boosted theories he may just supplant Fournier within the lineup. Grimes additionally carried the necessary enhance and appreciate of Thibodeau.

“What’s the effort a guy makes to get that and protect the basket?” Thibodeau mentioned. “What’s his effort to communicate? What’s his effort to be in the gap? What’s his effort to stunt? What’s his effort to never quit on a play? And that’s in [Grimes]. That’s how he got on the floor.

“His shot profile is off the charts,” the trainer added. “The thing is the body of work, when you look at the matchups that Quentin had last year it stood out. There is evidence of it. He’s guarded multiple positions. He’s a big-time multiple effort guy. He’s got a tenacity about him. I think that serves him well.”

Grimes has reciprocated his religion in Thibodeau.

“You gotta kind of earn [Thibodeau’s] trust, but I feel like once you earned his trust and he believes in you, and you believe in the way that he’s preaching to us every day, I feel like that kind of goes a long way with him,” Grimes mentioned. “Just me coming in, he’s a defensive-minded head coach, I take pride in defense, and we can come together.”