Rookie Quickley says Rising Stars snub will serve as motivation
NEW YORK — Immanuel Quickley has something to prove.
Despite the revelatory start to his rookie season, Quickley was left off the Rising Stars Challenge roster and felt a little snubbed.
“Yeah I definitely feel like I could have been selected,” Quickley said. “But you know, it’s not ever a reason to stop working hard or continue to come with energy every day and be positive for your teammates and be there for your team. So just use it as a motivating factor.”
The Rising Stars roster was just symbolic this season because the actual game wasn’t played in the abbreviated All-Star weekend. The honored rookies on the American team included LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton and James Wiseman.
Quickley is averaging 12.2 points this season while shooting a ridiculous 94.2% from the foul line. His field-goal percentage (38.9%) is less impressive.
As a late first-round pick (25th overall) who didn’t start as a freshman at Kentucky, Quickley understands he’s still being overlooked.
“Definitely. I feel like whoever it is, I said this since the day I got draft, I try to prove people wrong and prove myself right day in and day out,” he said. “I try to control what I can control and that’s something I can’t control, being selected to a Rising Stars game or whatever the award may be. I just try to control what I can control, go in every day and work hard and get better. Like I said, at the end of the year or end of my career, whatever happens everything will pan out and I’ll get what I deserve at the end.”
Quickley also revealed that while at Kentucky he resided close to the son of Knicks executive William Wesley. It helps explain why Wesley, a longtime unofficial recruiter for Kentucky, was so keen on drafting Quickley.
“His son was basically, not my roommate, he was kind of across the hallway from me both years I stayed at Kentucky, so I know him pretty well,” Quickley said. “Obviously he has a lot of connections to Kentucky.”
Rose still in protocol: Backup point guard Derrick Rose did not travel with the team for Thursday’s game in Milwaukee because he remains in health and safety protocols.
Rose missed the two games prior to the All-Star break, which began following a reported inconclusive COVID test just prior to a game in San Antonio. Frank Ntilikina has stepped into the rotation in Rose’s absence.
The Knicks (19-18) are 7-3 in games with Rose.
“I think when you dig into the numbers when Derrick got here and the impact that he’s had,” said Thibodeau, who added that he doesn’t know whether the point guard will rejoin the team during the two-game road trip that ends Saturday in OKC.
Backup center Taj Gibson, meanwhile, was upgraded to questionable for Thursday with a sprained ankle. Gibson hasn’t played since suffering the injury Feb. 27 against the Pacers.
“He’s doing a little bit more,” Thibodeau said. “He did parts of practice today. And then we’ll see where he is (Thursday). But we’re encouraged by howhe’s responded with his ankle.”