The most impressive thing about Immanuel Quickley is the speed with which he scores. The Knicks guard is fourth among rookies in points per game (12.2) despite being 18th in minutes (18.8 per game). The “no. 25 pick already seems like a bargain, and his success is a good example of how valuable shooting has become in the modern NBA. The blow to him before the draft was that he was a 6 foot 3 tall shooter that couldn’t run point. Now, the question is whether someone his size needs to aim to shoot like that.
Quickley played a pivotal role in New York’s unexpected success this season. He made the most of his opportunities, coming off the bench and transforming the Knicks offense with his ability to pull off the dribble from anywhere on the floor. I’m not. 29 in the NBA in attempts of 3 points per game (27.7 per game). His ability to throw 3s (8.7 attempts for 36 minutes of play) removes the limit to their attack and makes life easier for everyone else. Quickley can turn a game upside down in a few possessions. He scored 25 points in 20 minutes in a 140-121 win over the Kings on Thursday.