Shake Milton officially became a Knick after clearing waivers Tuesday, though did not make his Knicks debut, even with Jalen Brunson sidelined due to his contused left knee.
Milton, who had his contract bought out by the Pistons on Friday, was available to be used “situationally” in his debut, Tom Thibodeau said before the Knicks’ 116-100 loss to the Hawks at the Garden.
“Just the fact of being able to play multiple positions, the type of team that they have, guys who can do a little bit of everything, lots of variety, I felt like I just fit right in,” Milton said before the game, when asked why he chose the Knicks as a free agent. “The situation in Detroit, knowing what direction they wanted to go, just talked to my agent and the front office of the Knicks, and felt like it would be a good fit.”
The 27-year-old Milton is the latest player on the team who is represented by CAA, team president Leon Rose’s former agency. The sixth-year guard called Knicks executive and former CAA power broker William Wesley “my guy,” and added that his presence “most definitely” contributed to his decision to sign with the Knicks.
“He’s been my guy for a minute. … He’s there any time I need him,” Milton said. “Whether it’s to talk, do whatever. He’s always there.
“Just the comfortability. Just knowing what the situation was gonna be, knowing I’d be able to come in every day, be a pro, work my tail off and be prepared for whatever opportunity definitely played a part.”
Milton, who played for Larry Brown at SMU and Doc Rivers for four seasons with the 76ers, joked that he was not aware Thibodeau was an assistant coach in charge of defensive game plans under Rivers on the Celtics’ NBA championship team in 2008.
“OK. That makes sense now,” Milton said. “You know in Philly we were going against the Knicks a lot, so just a tough team defensively, togetherness about them.
“You know every single night they’re gonna go in and fight, and it’s not gonna be an easy night for you. I feel like I’ve already adopted that mindset, and being around the guys, it hasn’t been too long, but just at shootaround and seeing how they work, and the attention to detail, you can see everybody is locked in.”
Milton and Brunson were in the same NBA draft class in 2018, and they have known each other since the AAU circuit before attending college.
Brunson, also a CAA client, said before Sunday’s game that he worked out with Milton during the pre-draft process.
“We’ve seen each other just through the ranks. I think in college we went to the same camps, Nike camps or whatever,” Milton said. “He’s a very talented guard.
“Any time I was able to go against him it was always a challenge I looked forward to. Just being able to play off him, play with him, was always something I looked forward to.”
Milton, who was signed for the rest of the season, will be eligible for the postseason roster.
But even with Brunson sidelined, the 6-foot-4 guard will compete with Miles McBride and Alec Burks for backcourt playing time on the second unit.
“I’m just kind of rolling with the punches,” Milton said. “I’m going to sit down and study and try to know everything I need to know. At the end of the day, you get out there, it’s basketball. You’ve just got to be locked into the game plan.”
Milton also noted that the Garden “was always my favorite place to play” in the league.
“So just getting to do it, and being in New York, it’s crazy, honestly,” he said. “It’s a special place.”