Knicks’ Immanuel Quickley has perfect playoff motivation after Sixth Man snub

Mar 11, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; New York Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley (5) passes the ball during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; New York Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley (5) passes the ball during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports /
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Immanuel Quickley’s regular season performance in 2022-23 should’ve been enough to win him the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award, but yet, he came up short against Boston’s Malcolm Brogdon. The night before MSG’s first playoff game of the year, Knicks fans waited anxiously to hear Quickley’s name called, but perhaps being snubbed could work in New York’s favor.

Quickley made quite the leap during the regular season, averaging 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. However, in the first two games of the playoffs, IQ’s looked like a completely different player. He’s averaging 7.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.0 turnovers, and 1.4 assists while shooting a poor 30.8% from the field and 16.7% from three.

After IQ’s off night in New York’s 101-97 Game 1 win, fans attributed it to postseason nervousness, but he didn’t start to find a rhythm until the end of Game 2, long after the game had already unofficially ended.

A chip on Quickley’s shoulder could be what leads to an exciting performance at the Garden in Game 3 from the 23-year-old guard.

Immanuel Quickley Sixth Man chip on shoulder could benefit Knicks in playoffs

The Knicks can’t afford for both Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett to continue to not show up on the offensive end. Barrett’s been plagued by his inconsistencies all season while Quickley’s consistency on the court is what helped New York secure the No. 5 seed in the East.

There isn’t anything that Knicks fans can do to change the Sixth Man results, but IQ could put on a show in MSG on Friday to prove why he should’ve been named the winner. Wouldn’t it be nice to see a fun Quickley playoff performance that included him skipping back down the court after making a big play?

Celtics fans get to celebrate Malcolm Brogdon as Sixth Man, but they also got to witness the Immanuel Quickley Show earlier this year when he dropped 38 points in a double-overtime win over Boston in a game without Jalen Brunson. Ironically enough, he emerged as one of the frontrunners to win the award shortly after.

Let’s hope that Knicks fans will get to witness another episode of the Immanuel Quickley Show on Friday night at MSG.