Although the Raptors have more minutes, Immanuel Quickley says they prepare and approach games in a similar way.
However, I noticed that the size of the spotlight was changing.
“It's not the same in terms of media, surveillance, attention, anything,” Quickley said. “New York is definitely different in that sense.”
Quickley, who was back in the spotlight Saturday against MSG (and reporters flocked to Toronto's shootaround in Manhattan), hinted that there's a special zeal in his coverage of the Knicks.
“I think in New York, the media pays a little more attention to you,” he said. “You guys are definitely a little bit more…whatever word you want to use.”
Quickley has been with the Raptors for about three weeks, and the team heads into the showdown with the Knicks with a 4-6 record after the trade.
During his 3¹/₂ seasons in New York, Quickley was widely praised as a 25th overall draft pick who exceeded expectations.
However, he struggled in both postseasons, shooting just 33 percent in 13 games, and was traded for OG Anunoby after failing to agree on a contract extension.
“It's the business of basketball,” Quickley said. “The Knicks made a decision. And there's not much they can do about it. Expect to play the game of basketball. [that night against the Pacers],did not do it. ”
Quickley averaged career-highs in minutes (31.4), points (18 points), assists (5.2), and rebounds (4.8) in his first 10 games after the trade, but his previous career, including the Knicks, He said he still keeps in touch with members of the franchise. associate head coach Johnny Bryant and power forward Julius Randle. “They are my friends,” he said.
“When I was there, it was nothing but love,” Quickley added. “I feel like a part of my childhood is almost gone.”
There are at least two familiar faces on Toronto's roster. RJ Barrett and Gary Trent Jr. played with Quickley as part of Team USA's U-16 Championship team in the 2015 FIBA Americas Tournament.
Trent explained to the Post how Knicks and Raptors fans are different, and it's not what you might expect.
“It's a different type of crowd. When you go to The Garden, you get the fans, but there's also a lot of business people, a lot of corporate people, and a lot of that type of thing going on,” Trent said. “It's purely about Canadian basketball and the Raptors here. It's a different feel. Don't get me wrong, MSG is still a great arena that is second to none.”
Regardless of the intensity of the crowd or the media attention on Quickley, the 24-year-old said he is ready after playing in Kentucky and New York City.
In other words, the New York media got tough on him.
“It's going to go to the largest media market in college basketball, and probably one of the largest media markets in sports, probably in the top five in sports, the New York Knicks,” he said. “I think it prepared me. I have thick mental strength and really tough mental strength and as an athlete, that's probably one of the biggest things, mental preparation and mental strength. At the professional level, it's more than just physicality. ”
