NY Knicks: Who should be the starting point guard after the All-Star break?
NY Knicks: Should rookie Immanuel Quickley take the reins?
Quickley has been a godsend for New York. Since the day Stephen Curry was one pick away from donning the orange and blue, the franchise has been starved for a point guard that can do the things Quickley can.
Not many predicted Quickley to be the pick at 25th overall – experts thought he would be an early second-round pick at best. The Knicks shocked the basketball world by taking him with the 25th selection – and now they’re reaping the benefits.
Quickley’s rookie campaign got off to a blazing start – he’s averaging 12.2 points per game in his 33 appearances. He’s already reached the 25 points mark five times – including a 31 point outburst against the Portland Trail Blazers.
His basketball intelligence has impressed as well, playing like a veteran most times as opposed to a first-year player. He’s even drawn comparisons to one of his basketball idols – one of the most consistent scorers in the league, Lou Williams
The precocious neophyte gained the respect of Williams’ teammate – perennial NBA All-Star, Paul George. After a game against the Los Angeles Clippers, George was complimentary of the rookie’s game and potential.
“I like him,” said the Clippers star. “We were just talking about him in the back. His floater game is off the charts… I thought he was fearless.”
With the respect of the league’s veterans and the numbers to back it up, why shouldn’t Quickley be the Knicks’ starting point guard?
What the rookie provides the Knicks with off the bench is simply too valuable to mess with. While Quickley will hopefully be the starting point guard for the NY Knicks for years to come, there’s no sense in rushing his development – especially when he’s performing already.
Some say it’s more telling who finishes the game for a team, as opposed to who starts it. More often than not, Quickley has been on the court through crunch time – hitting clutch buckets for his squad.
His time will come – but for now, Quickley is best suited as the heart of the Knicks’ second unit.