Getty Immanuel Quickley of the New York Knicks.
Following up a career-best campaign during his third season with the New York Knicks, tantalizing guard Immanuel Quickley recently discussed how he’s been prepping for 2023-24, highlighting the work he’s been putting in this offseason and the expectations he has for not only himself but his team as a whole.
“My expectation for year four is to win, taking care of my body is a big part of this summer,” Quickley said in an Instagram Reel posted August 6. “In the weight room about five [or] six times a week, eating right. And then on the court, just working on pretty much everything, shooting, passing, ability to create for my teammates.”
Immanuel Quickley on IG:
“My expectations for year 4 is to win, take care of my body is a big part of my summer. In the weight room about 5-6 times a week, eating right. .and then on the court, just working on pretty much everything, shooting, passing, ability to create for my…
Quickley had a tremendous 2022-23 season, predominantly coming off the bench and posting career-best averages virtually all across the board — 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 44.8% from the field and 37.0% from deep.
As a result, he finished second in the voting for the league’s Sixth Man of the Year Award, behind Malcolm Brogdon of the Boston Celtics.
Now, as he prepares for his fourth season with the Knicks, the 24-year-old seems to be ramping up his efforts to position himself for what many hope to be an even greater showing this season.
Executive Suggests Knicks Trade Involving Immanuel Quickley
Despite Quickley’s breakout season, one NBA executive believes the Knicks should consider offloading him this summer.
The anonymous executive suggested that New York trade Quickley to the Toronto Raptors for OG Anunoby because the Knicks might not be willing to pay Quickley now that he’s eligible for an extension.
“The Raptors would be a really good fit for [Quickley],” the exec told Heavy Sports’ Sean Deveney. “And the Knicks would be a really good fit for Anunoby. He’s just a monster defender. Things have been pretty quiet in Toronto but there is still a feeling that they’re going to make another move here after what happened with Fred. Maybe they will stick with what they have but that roster is missing a lot.”
The Knicks have expressed interest in OG Anunoby, but his player option for the 2024-25 season and uncertainty about whether he’d re-sign with the Knicks are complicating factors in a possible deal (via @IanBegley) t.co/vyBT8Chm1b
Rumors that the Knicks were interested in Anunoby date back to early in the 2022-23 season.
RJ Barrett Deemed Second Most Overrated NBA Player
As Quickley was in the running for one of the league’s highest individual honors, his teammate RJ Barrett was in position for a far less desirable label: most overrated player.
Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey called Barrett, 23, the second most overrated player in the NBA over the last five season.
“Without free throws, Barrett has scored 3,958 points on 4,157 shot attempts, or 503.4 fewer than a league-average shooter would have. The only player further below zero during his career is Russell Westbrook, who is obviously doing a lot more as a passer and rebounder than Barrett,” Bailey wrote in a piece published August 2.
“And regarding that plus-minus impact, the Knicks are minus-1.9 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor over his four seasons, compared to plus-3.9 without him,” he wrote.
Despite his sound on-paper career statistics (18.1 points and 2.8 assists per game), Barrett has proved to be “one of the worst shooters in basketball” since entering the league in 2019, Bailey wrote.
The wing is a 42.2% shooter from the field and has an effective field goal percentage of 47.6% over his four-year career with the Knicks.