Knicks Rumors

Knicks Notes: Hart, Bridges, Towns, Payne

October 19th, 2024 at 8:28pm CST by Arthur Hill

Josh Hart played an important role in the Knicks‘ playoff run, but now he’s trying to figure out how he fits into the team’s revamped lineup, writes Steve Popper of The New York Post. Offseason trades for Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns have raised the talent level, but it may take some time for all the pieces to come together.

“There’s a couple days we have until Boston (in the season opener),” Hart said after Friday’s preseason loss to Washington. “So whether that’s trying to get a rhythm with that starting unit or we give somebody else a look and my role changes and comes off the bench and go with that unit. So just trying to figure out right now; I pretty much have no idea. But we’ll see what happens in Boston.’’

It’s been a particularly rough adjustment for Hart, whose first quarter layup on Friday night represented his only points in four preseason games. He took just seven shots in that span, which is a sign that he might be deferring more than ever with two new stars on the team.

“[Jalen Brunson] and KAT’s our engine,” Hart said. “I feel like we played pretty well this preseason. So I’m cool with that. I just think we can just figure out a way where we can be our best selves or whatever — roles or minutes.”

There’s more on the Knicks:

It has also been a rough preseason for Bridges, who has been misfiring since making an offseason change to his shot mechanics, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. Bridges is trying to eliminate a hitch in his shot and rediscover the comfort he had at Villanova, but the early results haven’t been good. He missed all 10 of his three-point attempts on Friday and shot just 11% from beyond the arc in four games. “When I came out of college, I kind of tweaked it a little bit,” Bridges said. “And then my second year in the league, I had the hitch and tried to build back from that ever since. So just trying to get it right.”
In an appearance on the Roommates Show podcast with Hart and Brunson (video link), Towns said he learned about the trade to New York four minutes before Shams Charania broke the news on Twitter. Towns added that he respects Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly for coming to his house and telling him about the deal in person, but he was caught off guard because he was expecting to retire in Minnesota.
Cameron Payne gave a fake name and incorrect date of birth to police when they were called to investigate a disturbance involving his girlfriend in June in Scottdale, Arizona, per Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic. The police bodycam footage can be viewed here.

Knicks Waive Landry Shamet, Chuma Okeke, T.J. Warren

October 19th, 2024 at 3:53pm CST by Luke Adams

3:53pm: The Knicks announced that they’ve officially waived Shamet, Okeke, and Warren (Twitter link).

Okeke and Warren were always considered long shots to make the team once Shamet emerged as the frontrunner, but if Shamet requires a lengthy recovery process, it’s possible one of them could return to the Knicks 14 days into the season when they need to add a 13th man (Ariel Hukporti is expected to be promoted from his two-way deal to become the 14th man).

Warren plans to join the Westchester Knicks and will be a candidate for a promotion at some point this season, Ian Begley of SNY.tv confirms (via Twitter).

3:44pm: The Knicks are waiving injured guard Landry Shamet, sources tell Shams Charania and Bobby Marks of ESPN (Twitter link).

As we covered in detail this week, Shamet left Tuesday’s preseason game against Charlotte with an injury and was subsequently diagnosed with a dislocated right shoulder. Prior to going down in that game, he appeared on track to make the Knicks’ roster on his non-guaranteed minimum-salary contract, having enjoyed a solid preseason in which he averaged 10.8 points per game in four appearances.

However, the Knicks have very little roster and financial flexibility — after accounting for their 12 players on guaranteed contracts, they’re only about $3.58MM away from their hard cap, which they can’t surpass at any point during the 2024/25 season. As such, hanging onto Shamet and continuing to pay him while he recovers from his shoulder injury isn’t the best use of the team’s limited resources.

According to Charania, the Knicks will likely open the season with just their 12 players on standard guaranteed contracts. They’re allowed to carry fewer than 14 players for up to two weeks at a time and for up to 28 total days during the 2024/25 season, so they’ll have to add 13th and 14th men during the first week of November. They’d like to eventually bring back Shamet when he recovers from his shoulder injury, Charania adds.

Because Shamet had Exhibit 9 language in his training camp contract, the Knicks were protected in the event of a preseason injury and will only owe the 27-year-old just $15K rather than having to continue to pay his minimum salary until he’s healthy.

While Charania and Marks didn’t explicitly report it, Charania’s claim that New York will likely open the season with just 12 players on standard deals suggests that the team will also waive Chuma Okeke and T.J. Warren, the other veterans on non-guaranteed contracts.

Knicks’ Shamet Diagnosed With Dislocated Shoulder

October 18th, 2024 at 5:15pm CST by Luke Adams

Knicks wing Landry Shamet, who suffered an injury during Tuesday’s preseason game against Charlotte, has been diagnosed with a dislocated right shoulder and will be reevaluated at a later date, the team announced today (via Twitter).

According to Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter link), Shamet’s injured right shoulder continues to be examined, but there’s “initial optimism” about his odds of avoiding surgery.

Although Shamet is with the Knicks this fall on a non-guaranteed minimum-salary contract, reports throughout the preseason indicated he was a strong contender to earn a spot on the team’s regular season roster. His injury complicates matters, since New York lacks back-end roster depth and spending flexibility below its hard cap — retaining and paying Shamet while he’s injured may not be the best use of a roster spot or of the team’s limited spending room.

The Knicks’ 12 players on fully guaranteed salaries count for about $185.35MM against the apron, leaving just $3.58MM in wiggle room below the team’s second apron ($188.93MM) hard cap. That’s not even enough for two minimum-salary veterans, so the club will likely fill its roster with one minimum-salary vet and one minimum-salary rookie (Ariel Hukporti is reportedly the frontrunner to be converted).

As James L. Edwards III of The Athletic points out (via Twitter), the fact that the Knicks said Shamet will be evaluated “at a later date” may be a signal that they don’t plan to waive him, though that’s hardly a sure thing. If Shamet is cut, the Exhibit 9 language in his contract means the team would only be on the hook for $15K rather than having to pay his salary until he gets healthy.

We should get clarity soon on the Knicks’ plans, but it’s worth noting that the team is permitted to carry fewer than 14 players on standard contracts for up to two weeks at a time and for up to 28 total days during the 2024/25 season. That means New York could opt to waive Shamet and its other camp invitees while postponing Hukporti’s conversion for now, rolling with just 12 players on the standard roster for the season’s first 14 days. The Knicks could then bring back Shamet at a later date.

Atlantic Notes: McCain, Yabusele, Raptors Injuries, Shead, Walker

October 17th, 2024 at 10:46pm CST by Tristan Tucker

Promising Sixers rookie guard Jared McCain took a hard fall late in the fourth quarter of Philadelphia’s Wednesday preseason game against the Nets. He was down for a while, according to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps (Twitter link), but he was able to get up under his own power.

Head coach Nick Nurse said McCain went to the hospital to be evaluated and the Sixers announced he’d be checked for a concussion, according to Bontemps.

McCain was reevaluated on Thursday afternoon and was diagnosed with a pulmonary contusion, but has not displayed symptoms consistent with a concussion (Twitter link via NBA insider Chris B. Haynes). McCain is out for Friday’s preseason finale against the Magic and will continue to be evaluated daily.

Missing McCain for any time is a blow for the Sixers, but avoiding a concussion is good news for the young guard. He’s been a preseason revelation for the team, averaging 12.8 points and shooting 37.9% on 5.8 three-point attempts per game.

We have more from the Atlantic Division:

Sixers forward Guerschon Yabusele made headlines in the Olympics after playing well for the French national team, then parlayed that performance into a contract with Philadelphia, his first since the 2018/19 season. Andscape’s Marc J. Spears details Yabusele’s return to the league in a recent feature. “My advice is just work hard, never give up and make your dream come true. If you want it, you’re going to have to go get it,” Yabusele said.
Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley went through a full practice on Thursday for the first time since the start of training camp, Josh Lewenerg of TSN reports (Twitter link). Quickly is questionable for the team’s Friday preseason finale against Brooklyn. According to Sportsnet.ca’s Michael Grange (Twitter link), the guard is still sporting a brace on his thumb. Meanwhile, RJ Barrett is still recovering from shoulder surgery and will not travel for the preseason finale. The hope for Barrett is that he’s ready for the start of the regular season, but there are no guarantees. Ja’Kobe Walter is dealing with the same shoulder injury as Barrett but he’s about 10 days ahead in the recovery process, according to Lewenberg (Twitter links). Walter has yet to be cleared for contact.
With Quickley soon to return and Davion Mitchell and Jamal Shead both playing well in the preseason, it’s possible the Raptors could roll with three point guards in their regular season rotation. However, according to Lewenberg (Twitter link), Darko Rajakovic‘s comments suggest Shead may start the season as the third-stringer, not part of the regular rotation. “I think it’s amazing that we have three point guards, and in practice you could see that everybody is pushing each other,” the Raptors’ head coach said. “Davion is making Quickley better. Jamal is making Davion better. They’re really, really competing and every team wishes for that. When you have more players competing for the same spot, it makes everybody better.”
With the Celtics cutting all their non-guaranteed camp invitees except for Lonnie Walker, it puts the seventh-year guard in the spotlight ahead of final cuts. Souichi Terada of MassLive believes Boston will ultimately waive Walker, since keeping him for the season would cost upward of $10MM in additional tax penalties due to the team’s position against the second apron. The Celtics have also opted to keep that 15th roster spot open to start the season in recent years.
Earlier this offseason, former Knicks manager of coaching analytics Nick Restifo left for the Hawks to be their director of basketball research. According to Fred Katz of The Athletic (Twitter link), the Knicks hired CB Garrett, previously with the Bucks, to replace him.

Knicks Notes: Shamet, Morris, Hukporti, Hart, Crawford

October 17th, 2024 at 12:23pm CST by Rory Maher

The health status of Knicks guard Landry Shamet remains unclear just a few days before the team has to make a decision on his non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 contract, writes Peter Botte of The New York Post. Shamet was viewed as the frontrunner to make New York’s regular season roster out of training camp, but he sustained a right shoulder injury in Tuesday’s preseason game vs. Charlotte.

“We need the information first. I don’t wanna be premature. I wanna see what everyone has to say and then we go from there,” head coach Tom Thibodeau said. “I really liked the way [Shamet plays], the speed and versatility, his ability to make plays off the dribble, to shoot the ball, to move without the ball, to read defenses, to understand what’s going on on the floor, and he helps bring the best out of everyone. He helps you execute, and I think that’s important.”

If Shamet’s injury is serious and the Knicks decide to waive him, he would earn $15K due to the Exhibit 9 language in his contract. Forwards T.J. Warren and Chuma Okeke could be internal options to make the roster out of camp, but there are other possibilities.

According to Ian Begley of SNY.tv, Marcus Morris had fans in the organization before Shamet’s injury — the longtime veteran forward was viewed as a “potential in-season addition” even after he declined his second camp invite. Morris initially signed a camp deal with the Knicks but was waived in a procedural move to complete the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, then declined an opportunity to return to the club after the Towns deal was official.

Here’s more on the Knicks:

Both Begley and James L. Edwards III of The Athletic have pegged rookie big man Ariel Hukporti as the leading candidate to be converted from his two-way deal to a standard contract. The Knicks have limited flexibility under the second apron hard cap due to the Towns trade, which is why they’ll only be able to carry 14 players on their standard roster. Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (subscriber link) takes a look at how the German center is making a push to be promoted.
It might take him some time to adjust to the team’s new additions, but Josh Hart could be the key to unlocking the full potential of New York’s offense, according to Edwards of The Athletic. As Edwards details, Hart’s high basketball IQ, connective passing and timely cuts make a major impact on quality possessions. “It’s huge,” Thibodeau said. “Being decisive and cutting hard is an act of unselfishness. It’s prioritizing winning. If you cut and you’re open, you should get the ball. But even if you cut with force and make the defense react to that, it’s going to open up other things and you’re going to create good offense for your teammates. And that’s what winning is about.”
Former Knicks guard Jamal Crawford will serve as a game analyst for approximately 10 games on MSG Network this season, sources tell Andrew Marchand of The Athletic. Crawford was an analyst with TNT last season but he won’t be returning to the network, which may lose its NBA media rights in 2025/26, pending the result of its lawsuit against the league. Crawford has also drawn interest from Amazon, NBC and ESPN, Marchand adds.

Injury Notes: Shamet, Randle, Bassey, Suns

October 16th, 2024 at 7:50am CST by Luke Adams

Knicks guard Landry Shamet injured his right shoulder during the third quarter of Tuesday’s preseason game against Charlotte, falling to the floor in pain after swiping at the ball on defense (Twitter video link). While the team has yet to offer a formal diagnosis on Shamet’s injury, it looked as if his shoulder was “dislodged from the socket,” writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post.

The update on Shamet will be an important one, since the Knicks were counting on him to make the roster as the 13th man despite his non-guaranteed contract. The team is facing serious roster restrictions related to its hard cap and won’t be able to carry a full 15-man squad, so if Shamet is ruled out for an extended period, it may not make sense for New York to hang onto him for the start of the season due to depth concerns.

Shamet’s Exhibit 9 contract ensures he would receive $15K if he’s waived while still recovering from an injury he sustained in the preseason. If he’s cut, it would create a path for another veteran – possibly a camp invitee like T.J. Warren or Chuma Okeke – to make the roster. In that scenario, Shamet could sign a new contract with the Knicks later in the season, once he’s healthy.

Here are a few more injury-related updates from around the NBA:

Veteran forward Julius Randle will make his Timberwolves debut on Wednesday vs. Chicago, head coach Chris Finch confirmed on Tuesday (Twitter link via Ian Begley of SNY.tv). Besides being Randle’s first game as a member of his new team, it’ll also be his first game since he underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in April — he spent the offseason recovering from that procedure, so the Wolves will be keeping a close eye on how the should responds on Wednesday.
Spurs center Charles Bassey suited up and took the court on Tuesday for the first time since suffering an ACL tear last December, as Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News details. Bassey, who had four points and four rebounds in 10 second-half minutes vs. Miami, earned praise from head coach Gregg Popovich for his energy and said he was relieved that his knee wasn’t an issue. “I didn’t know how I would feel and I didn’t know if I was going to play,” Bassey said. “Overall, I felt good. I was moving well. It was great.”
Suns guard Devin Booker, who has missed the past two preseason games due to right ankle soreness, should be “ready to go” after scrimmaging on Tuesday, per head coach Mike Budenholzer (story via Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic). However, Jusuf Nurkic (finger) and Grayson Allen (Achilles) will likely need a little more time. “Nurkic, I think, hasn’t had any contact, hasn’t done any basketball,” Budenholzer said. “He’s been doing a great job with his conditioning, but there’s nothing like playing basketball. And really the same thing for Grayson. Really hasn’t done basketball things since (the first preseason game). I think those guys, it’s going to take them a little bit more, but (Tuesday) was a great first step.”

Knicks Notes: DiVincenzo, Bridges, Towns, Toughness

October 15th, 2024 at 1:26pm CST by Luke Adams

Before facing his former team in New York on Sunday, Donte DiVincenzo dismissed the notion that he was disgruntled by the possibility of a role reduction with the Knicks following their acquisition of Mikal Bridges.

Multiple reports in the wake of the trade sending DiVincenzo from the Knicks to the Timberwolves suggested he wasn’t thrilled about potentially moving to the bench after a career year, with one claiming he was “really unhappy” about the idea. DiVincenzo called that “completely untrue,” as Stefan Bondy of The New York Post relays.

“Obviously everyone wants to start coming off the season I had last year, but I also understand that there’s different lineups and different combinations that teams want to get to – I understand that. It was never a thing of, ‘Oh, we got Mikal, I’m pissed off.’ I was super excited,” DiVincenzo told Bondy. “Take the Villanova s–t out of it, I was super excited because we have a very good player coming back to the team. And you get OG (Anunoby) back, now you’re looking at, ‘Wow we’re going to be really good.’

“There was never a conversation of my role was going to be diminished. There was never a conversation that my minutes would be diminished. It was the outside assumption and ran with it and it was untrue.”

While DiVincenzo admitted that he was caught off guard when he first heard about his move to Minnesota, he said he got on board with the deal quickly and that he’s not holding any sort of grudge toward the Knicks for trading him away after a year in which he set the franchise’s single-season record for three-pointers.

“Initially, you never want to get traded. So I was kind of upset, I was kind of hurt,” DiVincenzo said. “… And my mind went right to (the Timberwolves). …. It was an easy transition. There were no angry feelings, no mad feelings, nothing like that. It was an initial, ‘Damn, I got traded.’ And you move on to the next thing. It was all love.”

Here’s more on the Knicks:

Having expressed enthusiasm about how his own roster looks after the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch also heaped praise on the Knicks for the work they’ve done to upgrade their squad since last season ended, per Adam Zagoria of NJ.com. “I mean, how can you not like this team?” Finch asked rhetorically. “They got two-way players all over the place. That’s what you gotta you have in the game to win today at a high level. … They have great versatility, they’re gonna spread you out, they got toughness, they’re super well-coached. I think (Bridges and Towns) naturally fit into Tom (Thibodeau)‘s personality and system.”
After playing alongside a four-time Defensive Player of the Year center (Rudy Gobert) for the last two seasons, Towns will have to adjust to playing the five in New York and take on the defensive responsibilities that come along with his new role. As Peter Botte of The New York Post details, Towns is embracing that challenge. “It’s just accepting the responsibility of being the person who’s quarterbacking and anchoring the defense,” Towns said, adding that wings like Bridges, Anunoby, and Josh Hart will help make life easier for him.
The Knicks’ roster looks more talented than last season’s group, but will it be able to match the toughness of the 2023/24 squad after losing DiVincenzo, Julius Randle, and Isaiah Hartenstein? Steve Popper of Newsday considers that question.

Timberwolves Notes: DiVincenzo, Towns, Randle

October 14th, 2024 at 8:33am CST by Luke Adams

Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo had a brief verbal altercation with Knicks assistant Rick Brunson in his return to New York on Sunday, as Chris Herring of ESPN and James L. Edwards III and Jon Krawczynski of the Athletic write. DiVincenzo and Brunson exchanged words after the game when players and coaches were shaking hands before exiting the court, but the former Knick downplayed the incident when speaking to reporters later.

“Just some words. I don’t fully know what was said. A lot of people there,” DiVincenzo said, per The Athletic. “But I really have no comment on the situation. We’re both grown men and can talk about it privately.”

“Two people talking,” Rick’s son Jalen Brunson said. “Words of affirmation.”

DiVincenzo was caught on camera in the first quarter talking to the Knicks’ bench before he attempted a free throw (Twitter video link). He explained to reporters after the game that he was sharing an inside joke with Thibodeau, though league sources tell The Athletic that some of his comments were directed to the elder Brunson. At one point, DiVincenzo appeared to say, “That’s what happens when they let you run the show.”

Here’s more on the Wolves:

DiVincenzo has “quickly become a favorite within the Timberwolves organization,” tweets Krawczynski, adding that the team loves both his skill set and mentality. Anthony Edwards expressed that sentiment during his post-game media session on Sunday, per Herring. “He makes all the right plays and shoots the cover off the ball,” Edwards said of his new teammate. “New York is definitely going to miss him.”
In a feature story for The Athletic, James L. Edwards III takes a look at DiVincenzo’s journey from a scout team decoy at Villanova to a Final Four star to one of the NBA’s most coveted role players.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns said there were “a lot of emotions” on Sunday reuniting with former Timberwolves teammates who were like “brothers” during his tenure in Minnesota, writes Chris Hine of The Star Tribune (subscription required). Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch had nothing but praise for his former star big man, acknowledging that it would take a while to get used to seeing Towns in a different uniform. “It’s like a death in the family in some ways,” Finch said. “You got to make it through that first year, and everything is going to be a little odd.”
In his Sunday return to New York, new Timberwolves forward Julius Randle wasn’t looking to dwell on or reminisce about his Knicks tenure, telling reporters that he has “unfinished business” to focus on in Minnesota, as Stefan Bondy of The New York Post relays. Randle also expressed enthusiasm about Finch giving him more play-making responsibilities this season. “I’m excited to be able to show that,” the veteran forward said. “Not just from the post, getting double-teamed. Finch is moving me all over the floor, allowing me to be able show that stuff. I’m excited about that.”

Knicks Notes: Randle, DiVincenzo, Backup Centers, Kolek

October 13th, 2024 at 11:58am CST by Arthur Hill

It has only been 11 days since the trade that sent Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota was finalized, but they’ll return to Madison Square Garden this evening when the Knicks host the Timberwolves, writes Steve Popper of Newsday. While Randle isn’t expected to play as he continues to rehabilitate his right shoulder following surgery, fans will have a chance to welcome back DiVincenzo, who had a major role in last season’s success.

“Both him and Julius contributed so much to the organization, to the team,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “So there’s great appreciation for them and what they did. So it’s part of our league and we certainly wish them well. I’ve got great respect for them. I know their teammates do. I know the organization does. I think our fans do as well. They were a big part of the winning.”

For most of the summer, it looked like Mikal Bridges was going to be the Knicks’ major offseason acquisition, adding another versatile forward to a roster that seemed ready to compete for an NBA title. That changed in late September when the opportunity arose to acquire Karl-Anthony Towns from Minnesota.

“I think the whole thing was quick and kind of unusual,” Josh Hart said. “A trade three days before training camp started, so that was already kind of weird because that weekend you’re kind of gearing up for training camp that upcoming Monday. So that was unusual and then obviously we’ve got to play them on Sunday. It’s a little unusual, but the NBA’s a crazy business.”

There’s more from New York City:

Since camp opened, the Knicks have been more focused on blocking outside distractions than talking about competing for a championship, according to Zach Braziller of The New York Post. “As much as we want to jump back into Game of 7 [of the Eastern Conference semifinals] last year and proceed to where we went, we have to start the journey all over,” Jalen Brunson said. “… Regardless of what people say, whether it’s positive or negative, we have to have mental toughness and just worry about what’s going on inside of this building, inside this organization.”
Thibodeau won’t have a regular backup for Towns when the season opens, Braziller adds. Jericho Sims, Ariel Hukporti and Precious Achiuwa may all see time in that role, and OG Anunoby could be used as a center in small-ball lineups. “Jericho’s athleticism is very different from most,” Thibodeau said. “Ariel is a young guy coming in, there’s a defensive component to him already. But he has to learn the offensive part of the game, and that’s coming. But both are very good.”
Second-round pick Tyler Kolek is averaging 13 points, three assists and two steals through his first two preseason games and he may be in contention for playing time as the season wears on, Braziller states in a separate story. “I’m still figuring it out, finding my pace,” Kolek said. “Maybe in practice I haven’t been as aggressive looking at the basket. So it’s been kind of intentional in these games to get those looks because then it opens up everything else with my passing.”

New York Notes: Thomas, Simmons, Kolek, Knicks, Klutch

October 12th, 2024 at 12:11pm CST by Rory Maher

Nets guard Cam Thomas is eligible for a rookie scale extension until Oct. 21. If he doesn’t sign an extension, he’ll be on track for restricted free agency next summer.

Speaking to Erik Slater of Clutch Points on the Bleav in Nets podcast (YouTube link), Brian Lewis of The New York Post said opinions on Thomas vary wildly around the NBA, making it difficult to get a read on what type of contract he might receive in a possible extension or as a RFA.

“With Cam Thomas, there is no sort of baseline,” Lewis said. “Some scouts, they think he walks on water, they love him. ‘Oh, he’s a bucket. Oh, he’s this, he’s that.’ Others wouldn’t touch him with a ten-foot pole. They want no part of it. No matter what he’s getting paid, they don’t want any part of it.

“I’ve never seen a player like this, frankly, that is, when I say he’s divisive, I don’t mean that he’s divisive in the locker room and guys don’t get along with him. I mean, there is no sort of agreement between scouts or front office personnel [on] what his value is on the market, or how good of a player can he be.”

Here are some more notes on the NBA’s two New York-based teams:

Oddsmakers think the Nets will have the worst record in the league in 2024/25. Critics of Cam Thomas think he’s just a high-volume scorer on a bad team. He’s out to prove his doubters wrong and has taken up head coach Jordi Fernandez‘s challenge of scoring more efficiently this season, according to Lewis of The New York Post (subscription required). “I definitely keep receipts,” Thomas told Sports+ this week. “Everybody uses different stuff as motivation. So, you know, I have a lot of stuff I’m going to use for motivation this year. And we’ll see how that goes for us. But I’m definitely ready and ready to prove people wrong this year.”
In an exclusive interview with Lewis, swingman Ben Simmons says he’s focused on providing leadership to a young Nets team and isn’t thinking about what the future might hold. Simmons, a three-time All-Star who has missed most of the past three seasons with back issues, is on an expiring $40.3MM contract. “We have a younger team that I want to help these guys get better. I want to lead by example. I want to compete,” Simmons told The Post. “Jordi [Fernandez] is coming in first year. It’s a big year for him. I want to be a leader on this team. So f– what happens next year, and what contract I get, if I get a contract. I want to do my job while I’m here and be professional and help these guys in any way I can. So who knows? I want to play as long as my body will allow me. So if it’s one year, five years, six years, I don’t know what it is. But I just want to keep going until I can’t anymore.”
Simmons also recently spoke to Law Murray of The Athletic about what roles he might play for the Nets this season, assuming he stays healthy, which is obviously a major question mark. The 28-year-old sounds more open to playing frontcourt minutes than he has in the past. “I’m an older guy now,” Simmons said. “I’m pretty strong down there. … I’m always up for that challenge. I think it’s just one of those things where, if your name is called to do a job, then you step up and try and do it to the best of your ability. So that’s what I’m going to do every night and try and contribute and do the best I can.”
Rookie second-rounder Tyler Kolek is soaking up wisdom from the veterans on the Knicks‘ roster as he adjusts to the NBA, writes Steve Popper of Newsday (subscriber link). “All the vets, just leaning on them, they’ve been there before,” Kolek said. “They know how this works. I’m kind of coming into this blind. Three years in college, each year I knew what to expect. Coming into this league I don’t really know what to expect, so just really leaning on those guys, leaning on my teammates to guide me through.”
Stefan Bondy of The New York Post explains how the Knicks‘ improved relationship with Klutch Sports played a significant role in the team’s blockbuster trade for Karl-Anthony Towns.

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