Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley is working to avoid a sophomore slump, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes. Quickley has struggled through the team’s first nine games, averaging 5.7 points on just 30% shooting from the floor and 23% from deep.
“I don’t think it’s really a slump,” Quickley said. “I haven’t made some shots but it’s a long season. It’s not a 10-game season. It’s an 82-game season. I just continue to stay in the gym, work hard, trust God and I’ll keep my confidence high.”
As a rookie last season, Quickley averaged an impressive 11.4 points on 39% from three-point range. The 22-year-old is confident that he’ll find his stroke in due time.
“It’s an 82-game season,” Quickley said. “I’m not too worried about it. That just means I’ll play great the rest of the season if I’m not playing great right now. They just told me to be myself, which means have confidence, play hard and keep your energy on the floor. That’s what I continue to do.”
Here are some other notes out of New York:
- RJ Barrett is becoming the team’s iron man due to his physical and mental toughness, Berman writes in a separate article for the New York Post. Barrett has played an average of 35.3 minutes this season, coming off a campaign where he scored 17.6 points in 34.9 minutes per contest. Head coach Tom Thibodeau is known for liking durable players who can play for long stretches, something Barrett has grown accustomed to doing.
- Barrett praised teammate Kemba Walker during a wide-ranging interview with Steve Serby of the New York Post, explaining that the veteran point guard brings a palpable energy to the club. “He’s a great person, he’s a great human being overall. We all really get along with him,” Barrett said of Walker. “He’s really not about himself, he really wants the whole team succeeding, no matter who it is, no matter who scores or whatever, he’s cheering the loudest. That’s great to know.” Walker signed with the Knicks in free agency this past summer.
Rubio, Mobley, Allen came to play at MSG. They just lit up Knicks. That simple …..
Cavs – 48 reb, 31 ast, FG 54.4%, 3PT 54.3%
Knicks – 32 reb, 21 ast. FG 45.9%, 3PT 29%
Their bigs outplayed our bigs. And Rubio had a career night. Bad trend seems. Knicks don’t get up for so called lesser teams. Especially at Garden. Bad sign for this team to get overconfident at home. Thibs needs to handle this. We don’t win unless we all play and are locked in. Just gotta give it to Cavs. They wanted it more than we did. They’ll be up for Sixers today. Better be. Growing pains lols
Quickley should always be on the floor with at least 1 of Randle, Barrett, and Rose to take advantage of him as a catch and shoot guy
Quick seems like a good kid. I’m not a talent evaluator, but I don’t like his game. He just doesn’t look right out on the court. If he is being showcased as a piece in a future trade, he is not helping his value.
I don’t want to trade Quickley nor Obi, Mitch, Noel McBride, etc.
I say let’s just grow this team as currently set.
Drose snd Kemba are untradable.