Without a contract extension signed and the deadline less than two weeks away, the Knicks’ Immanuel Quickley said he’ll continue practicing and playing at full tilt while unconcerned over a potential injury.
“That’s where my faith comes in,” the backup guard said. “Really all up to God. I’m not going to lie, I’ve been fortunate to not even be worrying about it. It goes days, sometimes weeks, where I just forget about all that stuff. Unless somebody reminds me. So just coming in everyday and trying to get better is my main focus.”
Quickley and the Knicks have until 5 p.m. on Oct. 23 to agree to terms.
If they don’t, Quickley will become a restricted free agent in the summer — meaning the Knicks have the right to match any offer.
In the meantime, Quickley has participated in every Knicks training camp session and logged 23 minutes in the preseason opener — the second-most on the team.
ESPN cap guru Bobby Marks, a former Nets executive, estimated Quickley’s value at four years, $85 million. That’s the same deal signed by Atlanta’s DeAndre Hunter a year ago.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau confirmed that Quickley has been focused on basketball.
“You couldn’t even ask for anything more, and I think he’s been able to put that [contract stuff] aside,” Thibodeau said. “I think his agents handle that. He locks into basketball, and that’s where his focus lies: team, winning. That stuff will take care of itself, but the way he’s come in, the shape that he’s in, what he’s done, Quick is — I don’t care where he is in the offseason, but one thing I know he’s gonna be in the gym twice a day. Doesn’t matter what country it is. Doesn’t matter what city it is. None of that matters.”
Julius Randle said his unconventional basketball sneaker switch — from Nike to Skechers — was about endorsing a company that is giving him more creative freedom.
“It’s the fourth-largest shoe [company] in the world, nobody talks about that. They have a market and they’re trying to grow and tap into a different market,” Randle said. “So the fact they want me to be a face and to trailblaze that is huge. Any idea and activation or whatever it is, I call them and they’re all for it. I look at them as a partner. And Nike doesn’t need any partners. So I’m good.”
Randle caught flak online for his new endorsement, if only because Skechers is more associated with low prices than high-level athletics.
“Obviously, when you do something different, there’s going to be a lot of talk,” said Randle, who recently switched agencies from CAA to WME. “But the opportunity is there.”
Thibodeau has been holding back Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart at the beginning of preseason because of their FIBA World Cup appearances, but don’t confuse that with the coach’s discontent over their decision to play in the summer.
It’s quite the opposite.
“I know from my experience of having coached [Team USA] and then having players that played in it — I always go back to having Derrick [Rose’s] MVP year at 22,” Thibodeau said. “When he came into camp, he hit the ground running. It was an amazing year. And when you look at all the other guys who came out of FIBA and won MVPs, I think the same thing held true for them.”
Hart sat the preseason opener and is “a little nicked up,” but Thibodeau guessed the backup forward will be available for short minutes in Saturday’s preseason contest.
Brunson only logged six minutes in the opener as Thibodeau ramps up the point guard for the regular season.
“Obviously, I was thrilled that they played [in the FIBA World Cup],” the coach said. “They’re young and the benefits far outweigh the negatives.”