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This key adjustment has sparked Immanuel Quickley’s second-half resurgence

ByJerry Trotta|
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 18: Immanuel Quickley #5 of the New York Knicks brings the ball up the court during the third quarter of the game against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden on March 18, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 18: Immanuel Quickley #5 of the New York Knicks brings the ball up the court during the third quarter of the game against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden on March 18, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

The New York Knicks are still a longshot to make the play-in, but it’s been reassuring to watch the club overcome what was an unwatchable stretch of performances both going into and coming out of the All-Star break.

After a lifeless seven-game losing streak that had fans ready to tank for a high draft pick, the Knicks have quietly won five of seven. Those two losses were on the road in Memphis and Brooklyn and came by a combined seven points.

While RJ Barrett and Julius Randle (to an extent) have received most of the credit for New York’s recent surge, we’d be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge the spark Immanuel Quickley has provided off the bench as another major factor.

After a woeful two-month stretch, Quickley’s shot is finally falling again. As a result, his playmaking has improved and he’s playing with the swagger that made him an instant favorite amongst Knicks fans as a rookie in 2020-21.

It obviously helps that Quickley has found the range, but getting to the free throw line has been imperative in his second-half turnaround. The second-year guard recently admitted to studying film on three of the league’s craftiest point guards when it comes to baiting refs into calling fouls on their defenders.

The guards? Steph Curry, Chris Paul and Trae Young.

Getting to the free throw line has helped spark Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley’s second-half turnaround.

You really didn’t think Quickly was going to let a little shooting slump define his second season, right? Curry, Paul and Young are master manipulators when it comes to drawing contact and getting to the charity stripe, so Quickley deserves massive credit for taking a page out of their playbooks.

Quickley obviously has a long way to go in his development, but being a student of the game is paying immediate dividends for the Kentucky product.

Over the Knicks’ last 10 games (not including Sunday night’s clash vs Utah), Quickley has attempted 55 free throws, good for an average of 5.5 per game and he’s knocking them down at an immaculate 92.7 percent clip. In the team’s previous 20 games, Quickley attempted a total of 22 free throws, or just 1.1 per contest.

In turn, fans are seeing much more efficient play from the 22-year-old. Over the last 10 games, he’s averaging 15.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists while shooting 43.6 percent from three.

While Quickley is capable of impacting games beyond just drawing fouls, getting to the free throw line unlocks his entire arsenal.

It’s no surprise we’ve seen an uptick in his assist output (most on the team over the last seven games) and shooting efficiency (45.9 percent from the floor and 40.9 percent from deep since the All-Star break).

Say what you will about Quickley’s future as the team’s starting point guard. If he continues drawing fouls at this rate, he has the potential to become one of the most dangerous sixth men the league has to offer.

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