Before New York picked Immanuel Quickley with the 25th overall pick in the NBA draft, the former Kentucky Wildcats forward met Portland Trail Blazers forward and Knicks legend Carmelo Anthony.
The two are both from Maryland with Quickley growing up just outside Baltimore, where Anthony hails from. Quickley was active in the local basketball scene growing up, playing against the likes of Quinn Cook and Josh Selby while watching Anthony.
Anthony offered him some advice before the project.
“I actually got to spend some time with Carmelo during my pre-draft [training],” Quickley said Thursday. “He just gave me some little nuggets on how to take care of your body, come in with the mindset of being hungry, learning from older kids and stuff. It was really nice to have him in my corner. I wish him good luck too. “