'WAY OF LIFE
This time last year, Langston Galloway wondered if he was veering toward a permanent detour, unclear if his dream would forever stay fantasy and forever frustrate him.
Undrafted and then waived by the Knicks before the season started, Galloway went to DLeague Westchester before signing a 10day contract with the Knicks in the middle of the season.
Playing in anonymity, Galloway realized he was playing for more than ever before.
“I knew it could be coming to the end at that point, so I was like, I don’t know what’s going to happen next,” Galloway said. “I was pretty much fighting for my life. That’s the mindset I take into every day now. I know that my job is on that line. I have to play hard, like I have one day at this.”
As the Knicks produced their worst season in franchise history, Galloway became the rare pleasant surprise, making the NBA AllRookie Second Team while starting 41 of the 45 games he played.
With the return of Carmelo Anthony from injury, the Knicks’ signing of several free agents — Robin Lopez, Arron Afflalo, Derrick Williams, Kyle O’Quinn and Sasha Vujacic — and landing Kristaps Porzingis and Jerian Grant on draft night, Galloway is unlikely to see as many opportunities as he was given in the second half of last season. But after seeing what Galloway accomplished as a 23yearold thrown onto a new team and a new system in the middle of a season, Derek Fisher believes the guard has earned the opportunity to play meaningful minutes this season.
“As soon as Langston joined our team halfway through last season, he’s had almost a kind of veteran presence,” Fisher said following Saturday’s preseason game at Charlotte. “He’s a young player and all of our guys respect Langston and how he works at his game. I think he does make us better because of his maturity as a young player. We’re thankful to have him. He’s gotten better. I think he’s going to have a good year.”
Galloway has gotten started with a good preseason, shooting better than 48 percent from the field and hitting 9 of 18 3pointers, while posting a 20:1 assisttoturnover ratio through five games. Fisher, who said he’s seen “noticeable” growth from Galloway during the offseason, has given him the most minutes (28.2 per game) of any Knick in the preseason.
“I think it’s a combination of [experience and hard work] that has allowed him to come in and really be confident about who he is and what he’s trying to do,” Fisher said following Monday’s practice. “We think he’s going to be able to help us as a legitimate contributing player on the team.”
Last season, Galloway said it took him more than a month to feel comfortable with the Knicks, playing while playing catch up with his teammates’ tendencies. How he feels playing alongside them now couldn’t be more different, but the overriding thought from his rookie season remains.
“I have a lot more confidence, just having all those games under my belt, but I still have a lot more to prove,” Galloway said. “I felt it last year, being cut, and I don’t ever want to be cut again. I’m just going to continue to get better.”
Derrick Williams (illness) did not practice Monday.