It looks like the Knicks finally woke up from their month-long title-winning dream.
And what better moment to do so than on Monday, just in time to beat Motown.
Here’s the latest from Sin City and elsewhere.
Pacome Dadiet
On what he needs to improve entering his third NBA season:
“[Become] more efficient at the 3-point line and play harder.”
On understanding the Knicks’ expectations after two years of proving nothing:
“I have a better feeling of what the expectations are. So trying to put that into my workouts. Also, I know when to take time off [and] when to work; feeling more experienced.
“It’s more like playing hard [and being] somebody who can make shots, [make] open shots, play defense.”
On learning from Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby:
“I’ve been watching them a lot. I know [playing off the ball] is important to our schemes, so just try to be better.”
Dillon Jones
On his Summer League play:
“Me, personally, I just want to be able to push the team as much as I can, make the others around me better as much as I can. You know, being your third one, it seems like it slows down a little bit.
“Maybe not as productive at times, but you do the invisible things that you see happen in the championship run and things that lead to playoff basketball, and you try to put those on display as much as possible because, really, that’s what matters at the end.”
On Jack Kayil:
“Very talented kid. Super gifted. One thing I appreciate with him — obviously, he wasn’t available early in summer league but when he came in the group, he knew what was going on, he understood what was going on. I think that speaks to his upbringing and coming up in Europe. Very talented kid. He’s not going there trying to overshadow. He’s got a bright future.”
On Mike Brown seeking and implementing his advice during the NBA Finals:
“With coach, honestly, it speaks a lot to just him more than me and whatever I had to say. The fact that he would even approach me and have a conversation with me or even ask me to help in any way. … I just think it speaks to him more than me — his humility to hear everybody out in the building. And I’m just glad I was able to help the team in any way.”
On how he helped Brown tweak his system to beat the Spurs:
“Nothing specific. Just conversations me and coach had. And we were just talking about different things, and it came up in an organic conversation. It wasn’t like I was just sitting home plotting on what to say or anything like that. … These things — you try different things all the time. You never know what works and what doesn’t. I’m glad I was able to help the team.”
Patrick Ewing
On leaving his Knicks ambassador role to become a Wizards assistant coach:
“I take my hat off to the Knicks. Both Leon [Rose] and World Wide Wes and Mr. [James] Dolan have done a great job in terms of what they’ve done in making all of us feel like we’re all a part of everything that’s going on.
“But their [assistant] bench was already stacked. So I think they have some great guys there. I enjoyed being around them, learning from them, picking their brains. So there was not an opportunity there for me. And one was here.”
On returning to coaching with the Wizards:
“I still have the coaching bug. It was a great run for us last year in New York, being able to win a championship, get to the Eastern Conference finals the year before. But this opportunity came up and I came on board.
“I know [Wizards executive] John [Thompson III]. … I know the D.C. area. I still live there. I was going back-and-forth from New York when I was with the Knicks. I thought it was a great fit here. Being able to work with the guys I’m working with and to continue my coaching tree.”
On the Wizards’ young talent and future:
“We do have a lot of talent. You can’t predict the future. All you can do is just — you have the talent, now you got to work with the talent. We haven’t started practicing yet — just with these [Summer League players]. But I hope our future will be bright and be able to make some noise in the Eastern Conference.”
On why he continues to pursue coaching gigs:
“That [coaching bug] hasn’t left yet. I enjoy it. I enjoy teaching. I enjoy trying to give back to a lot of these young kids.”
On watching the Knicks win the championship:
“All of that was great. Seeing Jalen doing his thing. Putting on his cape and carrying us on his back. [Karl-Anthony Towns] doing the things that he was doing. Mikal Bridges. The whole entire team did what they needed to do to help us to get to this party.”
CJ McCollum
On predicting during the series that the Knicks could win the championship:
“I wasn’t surprised they won. I actually told OG [Anunoby] at the free-throw line, ‘I think you guys can win the championship.’
“Looking at their roster, how they were playing, meshing, and their focus and intensity, I saw a team capable of making a deep run.
“[The Knicks] figured something out. We pushed them to the limit. I’m sure they appreciated the fact that we tested them and got them ready.”
Udonis Haslem
On Draymond Green commenting on the reported Bam Adebayo-Tyler Herro fight:
“I see some things just don’t change. You was on sucka s–t four years ago when you swung on Jordan Poole and you on sucka s–t now. First of all Bam is 28. Tyler is 26. Neither one of them got it all figured out yet. Anyone who knows Bam knows he’s strong as baby bear. If he would’ve unloaded on Tyler 100% it’s over. You fired off on that young boy like it was a club punch and you never met him before in your life.”
On his relationship with Green:
“Ion really vibe you and I think you know that. You brought me into this and I am retired and out the way. I suggest you keep it pushing cause I ain’t giving out no more hall passes bra!”
On enforcing standards within the Heat organization:
“Call it Heat Culture or whatever you want. But before I let one player disrespect [head coach Eric Spoelstra] in front of the squad, cut his legs out and disrupt what 15 other guys tryin to get accomplished, I’ll kick his ass.”
Kevon Looney
On choosing Los Angeles in free agency:
“I knew I was going to be a free agent. I looked at the landscape of free agency and where there was an opportunity where I could play. A few teams called looking for a backup big. LA is a place that I come to all the time. I’m here a lot of the times. I got a lot of friends and family. So to have the opportunity to join the Lakers, I couldn’t turn that down.”
Vince Goodwill
On why Jalen Brunson deserved the ESPY for Best Athlete in Men’s Sports:
“[Ending] that 53-year drought, winning MVP in the Finals with a 45-point finish [in Game 5], also [winning] Eastern Conference MVP. He won every trophy that there was to win, with the exception of Most Valuable Player in the regular season.
“I think the enormity of what he did in New York, the way that the Knicks went on this historic run before getting to the NBA Finals … that to me may put him over the top.”
