Knicks: Comparing Immanuel Quickley’s ceiling to other NBA Players
By Allen Settle
Immanuel Quickley vs Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
This feels like the most logical NBA player comparison for Quickley. While the 6’5″ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope boasts more legitimate height over the 6’3” Quickley, the latter guard makes up for his deficiency with an impressive 6’9” wingspan.
“KCP” has established himself as one of the better “3-and-D” players in the league during his time with the Pistons and Lakers. He has proven to be a legitimate starting-caliber player with 11.6 points per game average during his career. He also boasts a good defensive reputation and a 35% career mark from beyond the arch.
Immanuel Quickley, on the other hand, recorded 10.1 points per game average with a 40% clip from behind the colligate three-point line during his two seasons as a Wildcat. In addition to his defensive potential, he also has the makings of a serviceable ball-handling option and facilitator. I believe that the reason behind Quickley’s stock being as low as it was pre-draft was largely due in part to Kentucky favoring Tyrese Maxey’s playmaking abilities to that of Quickley’s. While Quickley’s off-ball abilities have been touted as NBA caliber, he was not originally viewed as someone who could run an offense, but it seems a lot of NBA scouts made some massive mistakes in which the Knicks were able to reap those benefits.
Quickley, much like KCP, has a style of play that would fit well on any NBA roster. If he is able to reach these reasonable heights, the former Kentucky star could become an important piece of the next incarnation of the New York Knicks.