I acknowledge there might be repetition in today’s Bulletin.
My excuse: yesterday was a mad day for Knicks Nation, and we rushed to give you all of the coverage from Media Day as it unfolded, as quickly as we could following the wrapping up of the open-mic sessions.
Anyway, here’s everything I think was said yesterday after going through all the quotes and soundbites heard on Tuesday.
Mike Brown
On establishing a team identity and style at training camp:
“That will emerge as we make the decisions. But one thing we want to make sure we do offensively is we want to play fast, get the floor spaced — not just in the full court but in the half court, too — with a certain cadence. And then defensively, we want to be physical. We want to get people to feel us. And we want to do so without fouling. So those are two things at the forefront of what I’d like to get accomplished with this team.”
On helping Jalen Brunson and creating easier opportunities for teammates:
“He seems like he’s a versatile player. The biggest thing I want to do for him is try to get him — as well as everyone else — easy shots. And one of the easiest shots in the game of basketball is a spray three. I’m a big proponent of touching the paint and spraying that basketball for a catch-and-shoot three. Within what we do, we are going to try to give [Jalen] a lot of those situations.”
On Brunson embracing an off-ball role:
“We want [him] to keep moving. The little bit that we’ve seen so far from Jalen during these optional workouts, he seems like he’s embraced it. Because you have to be in great condition to play this way.”
On how to get a slow team to play faster:
“That’s the first thing. Tell them to be faster.”
On how pace begins with wing play, not point guard tempo:
“For us, the biggest thing is get to the corners. We got to have guys who are capable of getting to the corners quickly. If you have guys who commit to the corners — especially guys who can shoot the ball and make plays like we do on this team — then that’s going to flatten the defense. And it’s going to start the dominoes to fall. So we emphasize that.”
On playing time philosophy:
“If you look at what I’ve done in the past, it’s usually 9-and-a-half to 10 guys. I try to play as many guys as I can. Even when I was in Sacramento and we had an injury during the season, there was a point in time when I started a two-way guy in Keon Ellis. So I’m going to try to play who is going to help us win — and I’m going to try to get guys an opportunity. Hopefully, with as deep as our roster is, everybody will get an opportunity at some point in the course of the season.”
On embracing pressure and expectations:
“When you have a target on your back, you have to bring your best every time you step on the floor.”
Jalen Brunson
On adapting to a new role and style under Mike Brown:
“I made it work. I’ve always been in different roles throughout my career, even in college. When I lock in on a role, figure out how I’m going to be best with it I’ve done pretty well with it. So try to keep that same thing going.”
On accepting changes for the team’s success:
“Yeah, we’ve got to obviously be willing to adapt, be willing to change, figure how we’re going to be the best team possible moving forward. If you want to win you’ll do it. It’s that simple.”
Josh Hart
On questions still surrounding the team’s identity:
“I don’t really know, honestly. I think we are going to have to figure it out.”
On how playing fast could unlock the team’s potential:
“I think playing fast is gonna help us get to another level. When you got guys like Mikal and OG [Anunoby], who can play very good off the catch and getting them into transition and getting them into position where they can attack the basket and make plays. And then you got guys obviously like Deuce, who can attack the rim and knock down shots, it causes the defense to collapse, which gives Jalen and KAT more space. The ball finds energy. We do that, obviously it trickles into all other aspects: making sure defensively we’re there and communicating and those kinds of things. So, I think it’s gonna help a lot.”
On playing with a splint due to finger injury:
“I’m just trying to get used to it, and then get through the season with it. I don’t wanna go into too much detail, but I obviously got a procedure on it and then kinda re-aggravated it somewhat recently. So probably just rock out with a splint this season and try to fix it again next summer.”
On adjusting to the injury during the season:
“It’s something that a lot of people have it. I don’t think about it too much. I just try to go out there and play how I play, and if I can’t play how I play and be aggressive and kind of have that toughness mentality I normally play with, then I have to figure out a different path. But right now, the full expectation is to go out there and hoop and help this team be successful and at the end of the year — [maybe I will get surgery] when I have some downtime and I actually know what’s wrong instead of last year thinking it was one thing and then taking a break and getting back into basketball and it was worse than I thought. With that being said, I’ll be good.”
Karl-Anthony Towns
On helping Jalen Brunson get better looks in the offense:
“If Mike has said that, then we’re going to have to do a better job of getting [Jalen] open. And in a way like Steph Curry, we’re going to have to go find ways to make it easier for him to get the ball in space and help him get clean looks at the rim. Again, I don’t know too much right now, but what I can say is if he said that, then my idea already goes to thinking of Steph Curry. How do we find ways to get him open with screens and movement that can help make it easier on him getting to the basket or shooting the ball?”
On what to expect from the team this season:
“I don’t know truthfully yet. But I know just for us, we just going to go out there, I can’t speak on that yet because I truly don’t know, but what I can say is that I know our team is unified and our team has the continuity needed to achieve great things and we showed that last year and we’re going to build off of that from last year to this year and put our best foot forward this year.”
On the team’s high expectations:
“I think last year showed us that we can do anything possible with our minds and we made the sacrifices and we’ve shown the world that we’re willing to sacrifice for the betterment of the team. So I expect nothing less than that this year. I feel our team is going to be even more unified. It’s going to have more continuity, a whole year together, an offseason obviously is going to give us a better understanding of each other and we understand the opportunity that’s in front of us.”
On his health and denying surgery rumors:
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Don’t put those words out there. I did not have finger surgery or knee surgery. No, I did not have a knee procedure. … Who [posted] that? [NBA] Centel?”
On what new additions bring to the team:
“I’ve played JC [Jordan Clarkson] for years [out West]. He’s a fierce competitor. Obviously we all know what he can do when he’s scoring the basketball. So he’s going to be a benefit for us — a huge benefit. And Guerschon, we’ve all seen what he can do. Biggest stages, he’s showed up. And those are two big additions to our team. I’m excited for this team. We have great depth. That gives us a chance to feel good about any part of the season — whatever the trials and tribulations, the ups and downs — we have a team that’s fully ready to go regardless of the situation.”
Mikal Bridges
On why he took less money to stay with the Knicks:
“I think if I came in here and preached how much I want to win and tried to take every dollar and make it difficult for the organization, I’d seem like a fraud and that’s not who I am. I want to win bad, and whatever it takes.”
On prioritizing teammates getting paid over personal salary:
“I love all our guys here, so why wouldn’t I want the next man up who needs some money, why wouldn’t I give them an opportunity to get paid as well? So I think I’ve got a good amount of money. I don’t think a couple more Ms will change my life.”
On Jalen Brunson setting the tone with his own pay cut:
“Knowing Jalen and being around him, that’s the same thing — his mindset is wanting to win bad. Do whatever it takes to win, and he cares about his teammates, too, and is gonna make sure everybody eats in this situation.”
On re-signing with New York and his relationship with the fans:
“[I re-signed here] because I love it here. Love the fans, love the culture, love the staff and everybody, front office, everything, teammates. That’s probably the biggest thing. I know throughout last year, last year was tough throughout the season and the playoffs helped a little bit, but I think I just appreciate the fans and everybody. I think a lot of people thought I might be upset because everybody was getting on me too hard, but I think I was more mad at myself because everything they want was what I want. So it’s not like a ‘Why y’all gettin on me?’ Some things get a little too crazy, but that’s just life how it is.”
