The best thing that can be said about a player at the NBA summer league is that he doesn’t belong there.
Such a player stands out too much. He has reached a point at which he should be sitting on the sidelines with designer sunglasses next to the established players who come to Las Vegas to party and take in a few games.over the Knicks’ first three games. The second-year guard talked a big game about dominating in the days leading up to the glorified, nationally televised scrimmages. He backed up his words — and not just by knocking down jumpers.
The Knicks were at their best when he was on the floor, outscoring their three opponents by 39 points. Grimes did much more than just score, although he did that at an elite level, averaging 24 points on 46.1 percent shooting. He distributed . He attacked the basket. He defended and rebounded .Grimes, the 25th-overall pick in the 2021 draft, looked ready to force coach Tom Thibodeau into giving him a major role next season.
The Knicks started each game well. They played with the kind of passion, focus and intensity at the defensive end Thibodeau demands. They treated the contests with a seriousness that shouldn’t be completely dismissed. Yes, the results of summer league games don’t count. Most of the players, for the Knicks and the opposition, won’t have roles next season.
Unknown players make statements all the time in Las Vegas. Off-the-radar prospects grab everyone’s attention. That didn’t happen with the Knicks. The guys assured of roster spots — Miles McBride, Grimes and Sims — were clearly their best players. Forward Feron Hunt, who is on a two-way contract, was solid, providing energy and explosion in transition.
There were a number of players with ties to the area, from Julian Champagnie to Ron Harper Jr. to Jared Rhoden . The best performer? LJ Figueroa, Champagnie’s teammate for one season in Queens. The 6-6 wing didn’t miss a single shot in his first two games for the Hornets, building off a strong G-League season with the Santa Cruz Warriors in which he produced 16.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Figueroa was a perfect 13-for-13 from the field and 4-for-4 from distance, notching 15.
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