3 Reasons the Knicks need to extend Immanuel Quickley immediately

1: His continued development as a player

While the landscape of NBA free agency and a potentially cheaper contract are both solid reasons to extend Immanuel Quickley, the most important one is that he’s simply showcased enough talent to be worthy of a long-term commitment.

After entering the league as a microwave bench scorer as a rookie, he slowly developed into an all-around lead guard who can play both on and off the ball. Quickley improved his playmaking and defense as a sophomore, then put on weight to become a stronger finisher this past year.

After shooting 58.8% in the restricted area on just 0.9 attempts per game in his first two seasons, he hit 65.3% of his looks on 1.8 attempts each night in 2022-23.

He also just completed his finest season on the other end of the court, cementing his status as one of the best perimeter defenders on the roster. Quickley led the team in both steals and deflections last year, using his 6’8″ wingspan to consistently disrupt passing lanes and strip opposing ball-handlers.

He’s made considerable improvements to his game each season that he’s been in the NBA and after just turning 24 years old, it appears that he’s still far away from reaching his ceiling as a pro.

If the front office extends Quickley at around $20 million annually, it could end up looking like a steal similar to Jalen Brunson’s contract in a couple of years.

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