Knicks fans often proudly claim, “once a Knick, always a Knick”, and that mindset makes almost every former player feel like an important part of a family. Now, that family has seemed dysfunctional at times,
and has caused fans a lot of disappointment, pain, and frustration. But like a real family, many members of that group have also given fans incredible memories, hope, and fun times. Among those distant relatives of the Knicks is a ball of energy that donned a Knicks jersey for only one year, but makes consistent appearances in Knicks-related trivia all across the country.
Quincy Acy, who also spent time as a Raptor, King, Maverick, Net, and Sun, was traded to New York, along with Travis Outlaw, for Wayne Ellington and Jeremy Tyler on August 6th, 2014. The move, much like a game, wasn’t flashy. But it still excited fans. Acy was coming off a sophomore campaign, in which he averaged 7.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.1 offensive rebounds per36 minutes, and was known for his relentless energy. Coming off a 37-45 season, the Knicks and their fans could use the human reincarnation of the Energizer Bunny.
And that’s exactly what Acy provided. The former Baylor Bear started in 22 of the 68 games he played in, and averaged what was at the time, a career-high 11.1 PPG, while also grabbing 8.4 RPG. Not known for his dribbling abilities, passing, or shooting, Acy’s highlight package consists mostly of putbacks, rebounds, blocks, and grabbing loose balls. But they were all memorable to a fanbase that often fell in love with high-energy, high-effort, blue-collar players.
After his time as a Knick, Acy went on to enjoy four more years in the association, playing in 177 games for four teams. He then went on to play overseas for a few years before pivoting to coaching. Acy started as the player development coach for the G League’s Texas Legends in 2022, and then joined Wichita State University as an assistant coach the following year.
Today, Acy finds himself back in the NBA and back in Dallas, which is a full-circle moment for the big man. Not only did he play with the Mavericks for six games in 2016, but it also happens to be an hour and a half drive from where he was born. Acy announced on Tuesday, January 13th, that he would be joining the Mavericks as an assistant coach, saying, “BLESSED! The Ink is Dry, and the Hometown kid is Coaching with the @DallasMavs ! God’s timing is always undefeated! 🙏🏿🤲🏿 Thankful for the Opportunity to grow and add value! #MFFL 💙🏀”.
Given Acy’s short tenure and lack of traditional stardom, it’s unlikely that he gets any sort of tribute or recognition from the Knicks. But when the Mavericks visit Madison Square Garden next Monday, it will be nice to see Acy on the sidelines, even if it’s on the opponent’s bench.
