JJ Redick showers praise on Quentin Grimes ahead of Knicks-Bucks
JJ Redick will get an up-close look at Quentin Grimes for the first time in the 2023-24 season when he calls the New York Knicks-Bucks In-Season Tournament game on Friday. The retired NBA sharpshooter worked with Grimes over the summer.
Grimes is entering his third season in the league but his second season as a full-time starter. He was limited to 46 games as a rookie before playing 71 (66 starts) in 2022-23. With Grimes’ minutes jumping up last season to 29.9 per game, he averaged 11.3 points per game on 46.8% shooting from the field and 38.6% from three.
The 23-year-old guard has been labeled as a breakout candidate, and after Redick spent time with him during the offseason, the now-analyst believes that Grimes has a bright future in the league.
On a conference call earlier in the week, Redick was asked about Grimes, and he gave an answer that Knicks fans will love (h/t SNY’s Ian Begley).
"“Really like him. He’s got a great spirit. Really outstanding work ethic,” Redick said of the third-year guard. “I think about a lot of young players that I’ve been around, especially towards the second half of my career and I tell people this all the time: You go into training camp, you go into preseason, you meet a rookie, you meet a second-year guy that’s coming in, looking for his place in the league. It’s very easy to figure out after two or three days what this person’s future looks like. Quentin has a very bright future in the NBA.”"
JJ Redick says Knicks’ Quentin Grimes has a “very bright future in the NBA”
JJ Redick spent 15 seasons in the league, and between working for ESPN and hosting his podcast, “The Old Man and the Three” with Tommy Alter, he’s still very much in the know about what happens in the NBA. Between his resume and knowledge, it’s a great sign that he’s so high on Quentin Grimes’ potential.
Through five games, Grimes is averaging 6.4 points on 36.4% shooting from the floor and 30.8% from deep. The biggest gripe about how he’s played this season thus far is that he needs to shoot it more rather than hesitate to do so. He’s nearly automatic in the corner, and his teammates need to recognize that.
Grimes has scored in double figures once this season against Boston on opening night, so he’s due for a big game. If Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle’s offensive struggles continue, and if RJ Barrett is out again, Grimes will need to get up more shots on Friday in Milwaukee. Maybe he’ll put on a show for one of his mentors, JJ Redick.