RJ Barrett expects to benefit from the experience of representing Canada in this summer’s World Cup, writes Steve Popper of Newsday. Barrett was one of the top scorers for the Canadian team as he helped lead his nation to a third-place finish and its first-ever medal in the event.
Instead of easing into the preseason after an active summer, Barrett hasn’t slowed down, Popper adds. He played in three of New York’s four games and led the team in both scoring and minutes per night.
“I feel great, even in the preseason games,” Barrett said. “We’re getting back to learning how to play together and stuff. But with just conditioning-wise and everything, I feel really good. So I’m excited.”
There’s more from New York:
- Jalen Brunson is impressed with the way Immanuel Quickley has been able to separate basketball from business, writes Peter Botte of The New York Post. Monday is the last day that Quickley can sign a rookie scale extension, but Brunson said it’s not distracting him from his work on the court. “That speaks to Quick’s character,” Brunson said. “… Quick has been coming in every day to do his job. He’s had a great attitude, and I was in a similar position when I was in Dallas. He’s mentally ready to go. And that’s all you can ask of him. He’s been a true professional. I just know he’ll stay that way.”
- Mitchell Robinson was a bright spot in an otherwise forgettable preseason for the Knicks, Botte adds in another story for the Post. New York was uncharacteristically bad on defense, surrendering 125 points per game while dropping its final three contests. However, Robinson provided a steady presence in the middle with four blocks and seven steals in four games. He also averaged 10.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in 22.3 minutes per night while shooting 80% from the field.
- In an interview with MSG Network this week, Julius Randle explained why he played through a left ankle injury in the playoffs that forced him to undergo arthroscopic surgery in June, relays Adam Zagoria of NJ.com. “It is frustrating but if I’m out there I’m not having any type of excuses,” Randle said. “Regardless, at the end of the day, we failed, I failed. And at the end of the day I had to get surgery, but what it allowed me to do, is it allowed me to slow down, to take a step back, to reevaluate, not just myself, the team and everything. It allowed me to sit back and say, ‘All right, now that your pity party is over and you’re upset about losing and not being at your best or whatever it is, now how do you get better?’”
If only we could skip the pity party altogether, and get straight to the mature stuff ..
I always backed Randle from beginning. Always thought he had the talent to get here. But he’s a drama queen. He needs to grow up. Imo getting a player like DeM DeR. Would ease his load. And make him a better team player. Jalen has done some of that. Both are too much iso imo at times. Players who want to get better, get it. Always something you can improve on.
Mitch looked the best in pre-season. Hope this is the yr. He finally goes for DPOY.
Al, the only matching salary that could be traded FOR DeRozan is Randle…Bulls really don’t need more guards.
They need a PG. Ball is out and may never be the same. Then you replace DeM with Grimes. Quickley and Grimes are future starters. Could even develop to be more. I’d hate to give up Grimes. But I believe DeM take us to another level this yr.
Plenty teams want Grimes. So you could even move him for the 4 you need. DeM is not the future for Bulls. At best he has 3-4 good yrs left. Better to move him sooner rather than too late.