Pacers’ O’Quinn takes parting shot at Knicks

Kyle O'Quinn wanted to escape the losing in New York.

Speaking to reporters in Indy for the first time since signing a deal with the Pacers, O'Quinn said he turned down an offer from the Knicks because, “I just felt like at this point, I owed it to myself to be a part of something bigger than next year's draft." Ouch. O'Quinn declined a one-year option on his contract after three seasons that included annual defeats of 50 games, 51 and 53. The forward/center has never lost fewer than 50 games in his six-year career, the first three coming in Orlando.

The Pacers, on the other hand, won 48 games last season and put a scare in Cleveland in the playoffs.

“I think I owed it to myself to be part of a culture, something that was being built,” O'Quinn said. “After the run (the Pacers) had last year, they're pretty established, I would say.” —Stefan Bondy

HURLEY HOMECOMING IN DEC.

Danny Hurley didn't wait long to get a homecoming game on his UConn schedule.

The new men's basketball coach of the Huskies will lead his program against Florida State at the Prudential Center in Newark on December 8 as part of the Never Forget Tribute Classic, which benefits children who lost parents on 9/11.

Hurley, 45, grew up in Jersey City, starred under his father at St. Anthony High, played guard at Seton Hall and later coached St. Benedict's Prep to a record of 223-21 in nine seasons on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Newark. He is starting anew at UConn after leading Rhode Island to back-to-back NCAA tournament berths. The Huskies finished 14-18 last season under head coach Kevin Ollie. — Kevin Armstrong

SAQUON MADDENED

EA Sports has released its ratings for Madden 19, which is set to release Aug. 10. And to no one's surprise, Giants running back Saquon Barkley is among the top rookies.

Barkley has been given an overall rating of 82 to begin the season — the highest among rookie running backs and second-highest among all rookies. Colts guard Quenton Nelson has an overall rating of 83 and is the only rookie better than Barkley.