New York Knicks: 3 Steps for Immanuel Quickley to take next season
New York Knicks: Immanuel Quickley’s development as a passer
This won’t be an immediate need if the Knicks decide to run it back with the Derrick Rose/Immanuel Quickley bench backcourt, but it’ll be a necessary skill if the young guard wants to eventually earn the starting point guard slot.
Quickley actually averaged 5.1 assists per-36 minutes before the Rose trade, but that number dropped to 2.9 assists after adding the former MVP. This was likely due to Rose handling playmaking duties and the rookie focusing more on shooting.
Still, Quickley recorded at least 5 assists just four times all season and an improvement in playmaking would help the entire offense flow more smoothly.
He’s a smart passer despite his low assist totals, often finding cutters and rarely making mistakes. (0.9 turnovers per game) It makes sense that the Knicks had a record of 3-1 in those 5-assist performances from the rookie.
That rookie connection 👀@IQ_GodSon x @obitoppin1 pic.twitter.com/Bagnbwiqzu
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) April 10, 2021
If Quickley can take on more of a playmaking role in addition to his elite shooting, it would take pressure off of Rose to set up the entire offense and allow him to do what he does best and finish around the rim with an ensemble of crafty layups.
It won’t be the end of the world if his passing doesn’t immediately become elite, but it would help him round out his offensive arsenal to the point where he would become a serious candidate to suit up as the full-time starting point guard.