U.S. goalkeeper Kyrie Irving gave the boy a lesson in the second quarter, putting a series of forgeries and touring moves on Knicks rookie Immanuel Quickley.
Irving finally walked away from Quickley to make a finger throw without a doubt.
In his first NBA career start in Monday’s loss to the Nets, Quickley had a learning experience, but was barely overwhelmed by national television spotlights.
“It was definitely intensity throughout the game, going against Kyrie, James Harden,” Quickley said. “It simply came to our notice then. It was great to start against them and it will help me get off the road. “
Regarding that sequence in which Irving faked him out of the white Knicks shorts, Quickley said, “He’s a great player who will make plays, but I have that growth mindset that will help me get out of the way.”
Quickley scored 21 points but shot just 4 for 12 from the 3-point goal.
With the Knicks decimated at the peak, missing their first two guys Elfrid Payton (hamstring) and Derrick Rose (COVID-19 protocols), coach Tom Thibodeau started Quickley over Frank Ntilikina, who went served as a backup for Quickley and committed a foul in 16 minutes.
Ntilikina was goalless for the third straight game, going 0 for 5 and 0 for 4 in 3s. But Thibodeau credited Ntilikina’s defense in the fourth quarter for helping the Knicks come back.
Quickley led the offense to an 18-11 lead after hitting a hard baseline over Jeff Green. When Ntilikina came in for Quickly, everything collapsed. The Nets started a 14-2 run and toasted a second unit that Quickley suddenly didn’t have.
The radio team of Ed Cohen and Brendan Brown of the Knicks has been sidelined indefinitely, as the duo is in safety and health protocols, according to The Post.
Cohen and Brown have been the radio crew, listened to locally on ESPN Radio, for the past three seasons. Brown, son of Hubie Brown and former Memphis assistant, has been a Knicks radio analyst since 2008. Cohen and Brown, in their fourth season together, have not traveled with the team during the pandemic season, but call home garden games.
John Giannone and John Wallace will occupy the radio equipment until further notice.
Austin Rivers, who was banished from the rotation before going on paternity leave, is not expected to face his father Doc’s team, the Sixers, on Tuesday. Thibodeau indicated that Rivers’ promise is still waiting. The Knicks have said he is out for “personal reasons.”
“It’s hard to say just because with parenthood, when you have the baby and are ready to come back, he will come back,” Thibodeau said. “We’re giving him all the time he needs.”
Mitchell Robinson (hand surgery) was first seen by the media shooting without a cast. It’s been five weeks out.
“It’s moving forward,” Thibodeau said. “So there is a progression in this. He’s actually doing it right. You still have to go through contact in practice and that sort of thing. But I hope it will be soon. “