We were in the middle of a good, slow late-week break…
…only for Tyler Kolek, of all people, to force the Knicks PR into releasing a statement.
Here’s that and more before the Knights host the Knickerbockers tonight.
Mike Brown
On Karl-Anthony Towns’ strong start and the areas where he still needs to improve:
“I say those two things because he’s been doing so many things well
for us. He’s rebounding, he’s running, he’ s shooting the ball well from 3, he is passing when he doesn’t go for the home run ball, he’s communicating. The energy he’s bringing is great.”
On Towns’ professionalism amid his contract situation:
“Yeah, I didn’t have any doubt on it, you know? And obviously the contract stuff, that’s something that Leon [Rose] and at the end of the day, Jim [Dolan], will handle. But for me as his coach, I can’t even tell. I can’t tell. He’s played really well and not just during the games, but practices, too.”
On Towns’ pick-and-roll defense, turnovers and overall performance:
“Man, I tell you what, KAT’s been great. He has been great in practice. Really everything. It would be easier for him to say the areas that he needs to be better in. And the first one is just putting his chest in front of the ball in pick-and-roll situations and activity in that regard. And then not looking for the home run pass all the time when he has the ball as our hub. And I say those two things because he’s been doing so many things well for us.
“He’s rebounding. He’s running. He’s shooting the ball well from three. He is passing when he doesn’t go for a home run all the time. He’s communicating. So there’s the energy that he’s bringing that’s great . . . So I’m really pleased with the way that KAT is playing overall.”
On unexpectedly giving Dalton Knecht playing time against Chicago:
“It’s just a gut feel. Like, [Knecht’s] on my, quote-unquote, minutes sheet. He’s down for zero minutes, you know?”
Jalen Brunson
On Dalton Knecht’s impressive debut and encouraging him to play aggressively:
“He played great. I think the way he was rebounding and getting out in transition, and just telling him to be aggressive no matter what the situation is. And whether you know a player or not, being aggressive is important. And so aggressive mistakes are fine, so just stay aggressive, and he hit a big shot in the second quarter. He’s going to be comfortable, and once he is, he’s going to play even better.”
Karl-Anthony Towns
On the Knicks’ title defense and his motivation to win another one:
“I came into the season wanting to defend the championship at all costs. Like I said before, the city hasn’t seen that trophy here in New York for 53 years, and all of us in this locker room, especially myself, don’t intend for it to leave.
“Being the No. 1 pick, [reaching] the Finals and getting your title, and having to go out there and try to figure out how to do it again, that’s enough motivation for me.”
On his rebounding numbers and compensating for Mitchell Robinson’s departure:
“I just always want to impact winning, and I always try to get every rebound possible for our team so we don’t give up any second-chance points or we give ourselves more chances at second-chance points on offense.
“Obviously, with [Mitchell Robinson] gone, I had to pick up the effort, especially the rebounding effort. When you have one of the greatest offensive rebounders the NBA has ever seen in Mitchell Robinson, it’s a team effort. I just want to do my part to help with rebounding.”
On putting the Knicks ahead of his contract situation and personal interests:
“Me and Jalen [Brunson] are here to lead the team. I want to do my part as best as I possibly can. I can’t allow outside distractions and ego to get in the way.
“We won last year because we put our egos to the side and we did what’s best for this city, best for this team, this organization, and we sacrificed, and I’m always going to be willing to sacrifice for my brothers and this family that we’ve built here.”
On focusing on winning rather than his contract and individual statistics:
“I want to do my job as the best possible way and I want to impact winning. And every single time I put that jersey on, I step on the court, I want to impact winning and help my team be the best they could be. So, you know, obviously I’ve got more work to do so I could help our team more. But I’m happy that right now recently, especially last game, we showed glimpses of that team from last year.”
Tyler Kolek
On fake Knicks fans:
“At the Knicks games, I would say it’s very performative. Because they just want to be seen at the game. They’re not necessarily fans.”
On the absolute fakest Knicks celebrity fan:
“Maybe Taylor Swift? I don’t know if I’ve seen her at any other games. I guess she has a lot going on so she can’t come all the time. But it’s a little performative.”
On the truth of it all:
“I’m going to get some hate from the Swifties.”
