The New York Knicks are a team full of young, up-and-coming NBA players who are turning into eligible rotation pieces. RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley receive a lot of attention, but Quentin Grimes is just as important to the team finding success.
Grimes, a first-round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, took over as the starting shooting guard last season. He was in the staring five for 66 out of his 71 appearances and saw another uptick in production across the board.
Alas, that production did drop off in the postseason. An ankle injury contributed to his lack of production, as he missed two games. Despite that, coming into the 2023-24 campaign, the Knicks hope he will take another jump in his development.
This offseason, Grimes has been working to develop his game. Part of his program was that he spent two days working out with former NBA sharpshooter J.J. Redick in the Hamptons in August. Grimes was very appreciative of the opportunity, saying it was two of his best days of the offseason.
“How to set ’em up, how to come down, how to get even just two more feet of space cause that’ll open up more on my shot,” Grimes said. “…So just little things like sprinting all the way over to the deep corner instead of just maybe stopping at the break to get that extra bit of space. Because that’s the big part in the NBA: It’s not the big things. It’s the little things.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Quentin Grimes & New York Knicks Updates
From Redick, Grimes was focused on learning the little things to help make a big change in his performance on the court. Moving without the ball and finding different ways to contribute without scoring is key for the role he will be playing with the Knicks this season.
If he can take that next step with the ball in his hands, it will open things up for him and the team offensively. Looking to improve his skill set, Grimes spent time with former NBA star and current Memphis head basketball coach, Penny Hardaway.
“Grimes said Hardaway helped him with “reading the floor better, coming off pick and rolls, making the right reads, attacking the basket, pull-up… transition threes. Being a primary ballhandler. Kind of getting that feel for when I get the rebound and push it all the way up court. Make a play for me and my teammates.”
Hopefully, the Houston product is more comfortable on the court with his expanding skill set. He needs to find confidence in himself while out there as the coaching staff believes that he is more than capable of getting the job done.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Quentin Grimes & New York Knicks Updates
A more aggressive Grimes in Year 3 is what Tom Thibodeau and Darren Erman are looking for. Locked in as the starting shooting guard alongside Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett and Julius Randle, the advantageous situations will present itself as teams will focus most of their attention on that trio.
“If (Barrett) drives, heavy driver, so if they collapse on him, he knows he can hit me if I’m shaking up, if I’m sliding to the corner. So I feel like our relationship is getting better,” Grimes said. “Julius, Jalen, they know. Like if Jalen’s driving, I can slide up, shake up, take a wing three, slide to the corner, stuff like that. These guys are slowly integrating (it) as we get to know each other’s game more as we go through practices.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Quentin Grimes & New York Knicks Updates
Grimes was key in helping the Knicks finish as one of the most efficient offenses in the NBA last season. His spacing is paramount to their game plan as one of the most reliable 3-point shooters on the team.
He will once again be counted on to knock down shots from the perimeter, but the team wants to see him round out his game. Teams can never have enough 3-and-D wings, but the Knicks would love to see Grimes become more aggressive in every facet offensively. Given the work that he has put in this offseason, it would be a bad idea to bet against him taking that next step in his development.
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