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The summer additions of Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier to form a new starting backcourt for the Knicks have not deterred mutual interest in the return of veteran goaltender Alec Burks.
Burks was among those honored for playing a pivotal role in last season’s resurgence of the Knicks with a three-year, $ 30 million contract in early August, and he is expected to be a member again. key to Tom Thibodeau’s second unit in 2021-2022.
“At the end of the day, I feel like I wanted to be here,” Burks said after practice Thursday at Tarrytown. “I feel like the future is bright and I want to continue playing for the Thibs and playing with the same group of teammates we had.
“I feel like we have a great chance to be excellent again, so I just wanted to go back. … I’m glad we had another chance and I’m back to be able to help and hope we can right our wrongs.
Thibodeau immediately appreciated the versatility and value Burks brought in helping the Knicks reach the playoffs for the first time since 2013. The sophomore coach said bringing back the 11-year-old veteran NBA goalie was “huge. “, as well as multi-year signings from Derrick Rose, Nerlens Noel and Taj Gibson to complete the Julius Randle and RJ Barrett centerpieces.
“[Burks] had a great year, a great teammate, veteran leadership and then his skill level, ”said Thibodeau. “We desperately needed to shoot, so he provided the shooting, the making of the plays. He can get out of the dribble, can play in three positions and he can function as a starter or a guy off the bench.
“As soon as you put him in the game, he’s good to go. He doesn’t need five minutes to warm up which has brought great value to our bench.
Burks, 30, finished his first season in New York with 12.7 points per game and shot 41.5% to 3 points in 49 games (five starts).
Thibodeau said the Knicks bench – with Burks, Rose and second-year goaltender Immanuel Quickley all starring – was “one of our strengths” in 2020-21.
“It’s great because we played together last year, played in the playoffs and everyone came back. It’s great chemistry, ”said Burks. “We all play very well and we are all talented and smart basketball players at the same time, so we can feed each other.
“I think the chemistry is lacking in the league because the players are moving so much. I think it’s a great thing when you step onto the pitch. If you have it off the pitch, then on the pitch it shows. I think it happened with our group because we all came back this year.
Burks, who has played for six teams entering his 11th NBA season, said such continuity with the roster shows the front office “believes in us as players and as humans.”
Burks added that he expects the addition of Walker, whom he called an “All-NBA player and a great person” off the field, “will take us to another level” after a fourth. place in the Eastern Conference last season. Burks also pointed out that he did not have “bitter feelings” about the Knicks’ playoff loss to Atlanta.
“No, it happened. It’s my opinion. It happened. And that can’t happen again, ”said Burks. “It’s over and move on in life. And I hope that doesn’t happen this season.
“Just learn what we didn’t do well last year. I know we were fourth and had a great year, and if we just learn from the mistakes we made we can be better on both sides of the ball. I think if we do that we can take a leap.
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