The New York Knicks were back in the spotlight Monday morning during Media Day.
Everybody sat at the desk and discussed this and that the other thing, so I had plenty to go through for a first gathering of quotes before I dig deeper to offer more comprehensive bulletins in the next few days.
For now, here’s a bunch of what was said during Monday’s Media Day.
Mike Brown
On turning the page from last season’s championship:
“What we accomplished was amazing…. Keeping your core is always something that’s exciting, especially when that core has had success… but we have to understand this is a new season, new team, and we’re going to face new challenges over the course of the year. We’re going to hit adversity… and we’re going to embrace it.”
On maintaining the Knicks’ standards after winning the championship:
“Regardless of what we accomplished, moving forward, our standard and how we approach our process is going to be really critical for us. We can’t afford to have any slippage in our process.”
On embracing adversity early in the season:
“A lot of people tend to shy away from adversity, especially early on because you get scrutinized. I actually yearn for it. I yearn for it early because I want to make sure we as a group can handle it.”
On experiencing New York’s reaction to the Knicks’ championship:
“My wife and I walked into the Polo Bar, and I was at the bottom of the steps, and everyone clapped.”
On the Knicks’ contract-extension situations:
“We try to talk about everything. We don’t want to leave elephants in the room. Leon and his group have been good. I have a lot of faith in them, the players and agents.”
On the pending extensions for Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart:
“First thing is, we try to talk about everything. we don’t want to leave any elephants in the room. that’s something Leon and his staff have been very good at — some would say the best in the NBA.”
On the NBA’s second apron and how it impacted the Knicks’ offseason:
“When it comes to contracts and second apron, on my grandkids, if you ask me to give you two facts about second apron, I can’t do it. I have no interest. Leon trusts me with stuff on court, and I trust”
On new Knicks center Andre Drummond:
“Watching him in the gym, he’s a little quicker and more explosive than (I) thought.”
On Karl-Anthony Towns’ offseason weight loss:
“I don’t know. I haven’t checked his body weight.”
On continuing to use Karl-Anthony Towns at the elbow:
“We started the season with an offense with him at the elbow. We just did different things.”
Karl-Anthony Towns
On wanting to sign an extension with the Knicks:
“I’ve made it known that I want to play here; I’ve been a fan since a kid. I would like to get one done. I’d like to get it done and step on the floor and feel as comfortable as possible.”
On his comfort level if extension negotiations continue into the season:
“I think in this situation there’s no comfortability to be had.”
On Mitchell Robinson leaving the Knicks and Andre Drummond arriving in New York:
“I was very surprised that Mitch was not going to be back here with us. I think all of us were. Surprise to everybody; thought something would get done there, but we have Andre, someone I’ve respected a lot from afar and someone I’ve been a fan of. One of the best rebounders of our generation. To be able to play with him and also learn a little is going to be awesome.”
On starting over after winning the championship:
“Just get back to the drawing board, start at 0-0. Be hungry, be willing to do whatever it takes again to win it again.”
On losing weight during the offseason:
“I thought my wife thought I looked good. In the offseason, I always lose the weight. I use the offseason to give my body a chance to recover and rest.”
On bringing the Larry O’Brien Trophy to his wedding:
“I couldn’t have a wedding without Larry.”
Jalen Brunson
On losing Mitchell Robinson and adding Andre Drummond:
“It was tough. That’s my guy. I think no matter what I’m happy for him. It’s definitely difficult but you love to see someone advance generational wealth. Getting Andre, we’re execited. I think he can be a big piece to this team.”
On his confidence that contract situations won’t affect his teammates:
“I have the utmost faith in these guys. I don’t know about Josh, we’ll see how he acts”
On playing through his wrist injury during the playoffs:
“It was painful. I played through it. I did what I had to do to make sure I was right. I didn’t think I needed surgery. If that was case, I would have maybe done it sooner. I feel good. We’ll see.”
On what the Knicks learned about needing each other to win:
“As a group, we figured out we needed each other to win. We needed to be on the same page. … It wasn’t necessarily a turning point, you just do what you’re supposed to do every day.”
On how the opening weeks will reveal the Knicks’ identity:
“The first couple of weeks of the season are going to show us who we are.”
On the biggest lesson he has learned about winning:
“Just about not being satisfied, I think is the biggest takeaway moving forward.”
On his championship summer:
“It was the longest, shortest summer ever, but it was well worth it.”
On experiencing a championship in New York:
“I remember when the Yankees were in the World Series and just the electricity the city had. It just made you want to be a part of something like that.”
On his favorite “SNL” skit from his hosting appearance:
“Ask me in like a week, I still haven’t really watched it”
Josh Hart
On returning after the championship summer and pursuing another title:
“The weight of the jersey was extremely light this summer. This morning, it was a bit heavier. I think we’re all excited for the opportunity to do it again. … We’re not satisfied to just get one.”
On the Knicks writing their own history as defending champions:
“At the end of the day we write our own history. It shows the significance of the CBA and the second apron, but at the end of the day, that’s the past and it holds no precedence over what the future is gonna hold.”
On his future with the Knicks:
“I’m a Knick, love to be a Knick.”
On whether he expects to sign an extension before the season:
“Do I think it’s going to get done? I don’t think it’s going to get done. Once start of seasons, I want to focus on playing. I’m sure that’ll add a little extra weight to the jersey.”
On wanting to complete an extension before the season:
“Do I think it’s gonna get done? There hasn’t been much movement or conversation. I would love for it to get done.”
On handling his contract situation:
“At the end of the day, it’s a business. … You never know what’s going to happen. For me, as long as I wear this jersey, I’m going to play as hard as I can. Hopefully we figure it out. … If some of these things aren’t finished by February, it might be a different situation.”
On wanting contract uncertainty resolved sooner rather than later:
“You always want to get it done as soon as possible. You don’t want that trickling into the season. Whenever there’s uncertainty, there’s going to be rumors. At a human level, it can wear people down and impact”
On Jalen Brunson’s “SNL” performance:
“I thought he was fine. He doesn’t have a future in acting.”
Mikal Bridges
On whether teammates’ contract-extension situations could become a distraction:
“I have no input in all that but our guys are resilient and tough and no matter what’s going on, we’ll be alright.”
On his infamous Instagram Live:
“I was just trying to be me a little bit.”
On losing Mitchell Robinson and adding Andre Drummond:
“I think we’re just going to miss Mitch. That’s our guy, one of my good friends. We all love Mitch. We’re going to miss him, but bringing in Drum helps.”
On his favorite part of winning the championship:
“In the moment. Seeing everyone; we know how long the days and seasons are.”
OG Anunoby
On being told he has one of the NBA’s best poker faces:
“I don’t know what that means.”
On Mitchell Robinson leaving and Andre Drummond joining the Knicks:
“Everyone’s sad to see him go, but that’s how it goes in the NBA. Andre’s a great player, played against him for years now. We know he can help us a lot.”
On Mohamed Diawara’s potential:
“Endless upside”
On making an iconic play during the Knicks’ championship run:
“I mean, yeah, I don’t think really about it that much. But I know it was a big play. Makes me happy that I brought joy to everyone. Hopefully do something like that again”
On reviewing his missed shots and improving his jumper:
“I don’t like missing shots, so whenever I’m missing shots, I always review the film, see what I did right or wrong”
On watching his Game 4 game-winning tip-in again:
“Just watching it back, seeing all the excitement from the fans, my teammates, and then KAT getting the tip on the last play”
On the Knicks’ mindset entering the new season:
“Everyone’s excited, energized, ready to go.”
