In an interview with Arthur Puybertier of BeBasket, a French basketball outlet, Guerschon Yabusele reveals that he strongly considered the Nuggets in free agency before deciding the allure of playing in New York was too strong to pass up. After returning to the NBA with an impressive season in Philadelphia, Yabusele accepted a two-year contract with the Knicks.
“It was super fast! As soon as I received (the offer from New York), I had to give an answer within two hours,” Yabusele said. “On the other side, we also had the one in Denver. You had to be quick not to miss the opportunity that New York represents, in a great living environment!”
Along with the lifestyle that comes with playing in the nation’s largest city, Yabusele is thrilled to be joining a title contender. Coming off a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks have bolstered their roster with the addition of Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson while several other top Eastern teams are dealing with injuries to star players.
“When you look at New York, you can already see that the franchise has risen a lot in recent years,” Yabusele added. “They are conference finalists; the collective project is visible and very interesting for me. They are a very good team that plays very well together and is playing for the title! Having this goal was something important for me, I want to play for something. Apart from that, New York is a historic team. Playing at Madison Square Garden is the dream of every NBA player, including mine! It’s a special place, I’m very happy to be there!”
There’s more on the Knicks:
- New head coach Mike Brown is emphasizing quick decisions on offense, according to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. That philosophy was on display in Friday’s Summer League opener as players were instructed to drive, shoot or pass within half a second of getting the ball. “It doesn’t just mean playing up and down, like we have to get out in transition,” Summer League coach Jordan Brink said. “The fast part is all of the stuff in our actions. If we get the ball up the floor quick and don’t have anything, we’re to the next action. Fast is really decision-making, playing with a ‘.5’ mentality.”
- The Mavericks denied the Knicks’ request to interview Jay Triano in their search for an associate head coach, sources tell Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. Triano served as Brown’s top assistant and offensive coordinator in Sacramento, but he just joined the coaching staff in Dallas last month and the Mavs didn’t want to lose him so quickly, Bondy adds. Dallas also turned down New York’s request to interview head coach Jason Kidd before Brown was hired.
- After appearing in 41 games as a rookie, point guard Tyler Kolek is enjoying a fresh start with a new coaching staff, per Steve Popper of Newsday. “I think every season is a new opportunity,” he said. “Every year is a fresh start, new guys come in. We signed some free agents, so every year there’s fresh opportunity. And it starts right here, proving myself here, proving myself in August workouts, prove myself in camp, and then throughout the season. Just keep on proving myself until you get to where you have to be and then you have to do it all over again. It never really stops.”
Mavericks are tired of the Knicks picking them apart.
Brown almost sounds like D’Antoni regarding offense. My concern there is removing some of the strengths of the team, such as offensive boards. Robinson isn’t going to have time to park himself in the paint, and I’m not sure this is the team that is built for that type of execution. Seems Brown watched too many Pacer games.
This article does an inadequate job of summarizing what Mike Brown said, but it isn’t at all like the Pacers or D’Antoni. He’s not pushing for less time per team possession. Just less time spent on one person holding the ball, searching for a play. ie no drawn out ball holding. If you don’t have a shot then pass immediately to someone else who may have a shot.
When Thibs first started the season last year. It was all about ball movement. The ball was moving and everyone was touching it. Then in the second half. It became more Brunson and pick n rolls. Then more Brunson and Towns pick n rolls.
I’m all about speeding it up when you have it. Pushing it all the time is not how you play in NBA. Good to have different looks. And run different offenses. To close games out you have to manage the clock. I’m all for more team offense. Imo what Brown is saying is move the ball. Quicker decisions not necessarily push the ball more. Bridges should benefit the most from Brown. I just hope he and Jalen don’t clash.
The bench needed help. They did something there. (sign Landry). Towns and Brunson liabilities on D. Must also be addressed. Imo I don’t think Thibs was a big fan of Towns. So if you are going with Towns. You have to get a D stud at the 4. To help him and add big man D to team. This could mean a trade down the road.
I mean Brown and Jalen don’t clash.
Brown & Co. should make whatever changes they feel can improve things. Hopefully, though, they don’t lose sight of the fact that the NYK, with essentially a new team (new 2nd and 3rd options), finished 4th in overall offensive rating last year (ahead of new age BOS and fun and gun IND), and were 2nd (behind only CLE) until Brunson’s injury. On those facts, and adding some offensive bench pieces, one would assume we would probably improve some year over year on that side regardless. All of which is not to say Brown shouldn’t try to improve the offense. Go for it. There is always a higher level. Brown’s SAC offense was, I believe, 1st during his first season there.
I do ask, though, that they spend equal time thinking and talking about the defense, and maybe outline the improvements they plan there, with the same conviction and energy. The defense, btw, was NOT 2nd-4th in the league last year, and, other than the fact that Mitch will hopefully be healthy this year, there is no reason to anticipate the defense will improve merely based on the group being in their second year together. What would be great is a plan for “quicker decisions” and a “faster mentality” on that end. Maybe, say, closing out on 3pt shooters.
Hopefully Brown can get the young guys to make an impact. Kolek, Diadet, Hukporti, McCullar. This yrs pick Diawara. I know Hukporti can give us mins. He can help make a Mitch trade possible.
I doubt Knicks would make a trade now. It probably comes during season. After Brown sees exactly what he has. He has talked about moving Hart to bench. I don’t see that unless they trade for a 4..