The New York Knicks defended their home court in the preseason opener against the Boston Celtics on Monday night. Even though the star players didn't receive too many minutes, some still stood out. Fans were eager to see the Knicks in live action for the first time since being eliminated by the Miami Heat in the second round of the postseason not too long ago.
Three players in particular shined over the others in the 114-107 win over Boston. After a long offseason, he is the three that shined in their first run back on the court:
3. Immanuel Quickley
There have been talks all offseason about Immanuel Quickley's future with the Knicks, as he is going to need a new contract soon. Rumors are even suggesting the former Kentucky guard could get north of $100 million.
In his preseason debut, Quickley made a statement to the fans and Leon Rose with his performance. He led all players on the court in scoring with 21 points. The 24-year-old also tallied up three steals on the defensive end.
Many around the league believe Quickley could start for a lot of teams around the NBA, but the Knicks have him for their bench. Tom Thibodeau has a lot of reliable options off the bench, as they have more depth than any other team.
New York signed Donte DiVincenzo over the offseason to join Quickley and Josh Hart on the bench. It seems that the 2020 first-round pick is going to be the best option though, as even last season he was lighting it up in the scoring column.
Across his last 25 games of the 2022-2023 season, Quickley averaged 17.8 points and 2.4 3-point field goals per game off the bench. Many thought he was robbed of the Sixth Man of the Year award, as he finished second to Malcolm Brogdon last season.
Now entering his fourth season in New York, the expectations have raised. If his preseason debut is a sign of what's to come in the regular season, then the Knicks will have a lethal scoring threat off the bench.
2. Mitchell Robinson
Anytime the Knicks starting center plays well, the fan base becomes excited. Mitchell Robinson did just that in his preseason debut, as he racked up ten points, seven rebounds, and blocked three shots. The 25-year-old also recorded two steals and finished with a plus-11 during his 23 minutes on the court.
When New York selected the 7-foot big man in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft, no one expected a lot. Five years later, he became the first player in the last 28 years to sign a second contract with the team.
After signing that extension last offseason, he had a stellar year five. He averaged 9.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks, in 27.0 minutes per game. He also averaged 7.4 points per game, shooting 67 percent from the field.
On the defensive side, Robinson is certainly a juggernaut for New York. If he can take a step forward on the offensive end, then the Knicks will have a dangerous frontcourt with Robinson and Julius Randle.
1. PJulius Randle
One of the most interesting fan relationships in sports is Julius Randle's with the Knicks fans. In his four seasons with New York, he was selected to the All-NBA team twice; yet fans still aren't too fond of the star.
Anytime Randle is on the court, fans are watching his every move. As much as some Knicks fans might hate to admit it, the two-time All-Star is good at basketball.
On Monday night against the Celtics, Randle only saw 12 minutes of action. During his limited time, he managed to put up 11 points, while shooting 75 percent from the field. He also knocked down a 3 and didn't miss a single free throw.
In his first season with his co-star Jalen Brunson, the Knicks reached the second round of the postseason. Before Boston and the Milwaukee Bucks had blockbuster trades, New York was viewed as a dark horse team to come out of the East in the upcoming season.
Even though the East is going to be a lot harder to win, Randle and Brunson can take over a game on any given night. Entering their second season as a duo, they could be even better than they were in year one.
Randle is for sure one of the most polarizing players in the NBA. Even if you love him or hate him though, there is no denying he is one of the game's best power forwards. In the Knicks preseason opener, he showed fans he hasn't missed a beat.
