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LAS VEGAS – On an experimental basis, Immanuel Quickley made his point guard debut in the Knicks’ Summer League opener Sunday at UNLV.
It didn’t work out very well for the 2020 first-round pick.
Quickley, named the second-team rookie last season, was in a bad mood shooting 5 of 17 – 2 for 11 of 3. He finished with 15 points and eight assists, but had three turnovers and didn’t have the game. he looked uncomfortable, mainly because of his inability to reach the basket.
“We want to get into this quickly,” Knicks Summer League coach Dice Yoshimoto said after the 89-79 loss. “This is a point that must be emphasized, it is something in which he must improve. This is where we are. ”
As good as his season was as Kentucky’s 25th pick, Quickley was more comfortable with the ball – especially in tandem with point guard Derrick Rose.
The theory is that the Knicks want to expand Quickley’s game, perhaps to increase his business value. The reason Quickley hasn’t been touted higher in this 2020 draft is fear that he will become an undersized shooting guard.
Quickley also struggled in the playoffs as he no longer received the offensive calls he received earlier in the regular season when he took a break and made contact. In the fourth quarter on Sunday, Quickley attempted a similar ploy, faking a 3-point shot and moving towards his defender. But he coughed up the ball and there was no whistle. Quickley yelped at the official.
Rookie Quentin Grimes, selected 25th in this year’s draft, the same location as Quickley a year earlier, punched his first shot on his first touch – a 3 point right wing. But then he missed most of the time, even though he remained aggressive. He finished with nine points on 3 of 11 shots.
“I liked him,” Yoshimoto said. “I tell him to shoot the ball when it’s open. Don’t hesitate and let it fly. As a team we didn’t shoot the ball well, but I liked the shots we got. In a 48-minute game, he’ll get more. ”
European hope, Rokas Joukabaitis did not play despite impressive brass in training. He has kept the option open to stay or play for Barcelona this season.
“It’s situational right now,” Yoshimoto said. “We want to take a look at Luca [Vildoza] first and see how it goes. If he has the opportunity to play, he will play. ” Argentina’s Vildoza played for eight minutes, did not score but had three assists. It was 0 for 3.
The Knicks face the Pacers at 2 p.m. Monday and face their main draft goal, swingman Chris Duarte of Oregon. The NBA added the game because the Pacers were unable to play against the Wizards on Sunday due to a COVID-19 issue.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau sat next to the field with managers Leon Rose, William Wesley and Scott Perry. None have spoken to the media about the Knicks’ draft picks. … The Toronto lottery pick, forward Scott Barnes, selected fourth, added 18 points.
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