Immanuel Quickley back on his bench, jumping and waving his arms, a big smile on his lips. The new leader of the Raptors has just punished the Grizzlies, who forgot him behind the 3-point line, in transition.
A few seconds earlier, the playmaker had already scored from the same place, off the screen, and really started his evening after missing several finishes near the circle, in the first quarter of the match.
“ I have great teammates, because I struggled at the start of the match and they told me to keep shooting. The coaches too, telling me to stay aggressive and play my game. So a big congratulations to them for the mentality that I showed and that they gave me so that I played with confidence “, he describes like this.
The latter, after a more discreet first outing with 13 points for his first match with his new team, showed more of his offensive potential last night in Memphis. To the delight of Darko Rajakovic who did not hesitate to start him, despite his recent choice to place Dennis Schroder on his bench, to give Scottie Barnes responsibility for creation.
“ It fits very well. He's a guy who can do a lot with the ball. His shooting is really something that makes the difference for us. Opponents are constantly on him, which creates opportunities all over the pitch. I found him a little hesitant at the start of the match, we could see it in the first match too. And after that he started playing and being himself, that's what I told him, to be himself “, reports the Raptors coach.
“You’re not having fun.”
Namely, behave like a real leader in attack, capable of punishing from almost everywhere. Opposing Ja Morant, Immanuel Quickley scored 26 points (8/18 on shots including 5/8 from distance), one point short of his record this season with the Knicks, 5 rebounds and 3 assists in 33 minutes.
“ Darko pulled me aside during the match and said, 'You're not having fun. Have fun.' I have never seen a trainer do this », Confirms the person concerned, who adds: “ We have a lot of scorers, the coaches thought that I refused too many shots, that I tried to create a little too much. »
“IQ”, according to whom playing alongside Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes makes things easier for him, says he is also “ easy » to integrate into this new team and its “ family environment “. He can count on the presence of his teammate RJ Barrett at the Knicks: “ It's a big plus, it's good to have someone I know, who understands me and who I understand. »
The transition therefore seems to be going as well behind the scenes as on the ground. “ It's obviously only two games, but I feel comfortable, as comfortable as you can be for two games. »
| Immanuel Quickley | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2020-21 | NYK | 64 | 19 | 39.5 | 38.9 | 89.1 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 11.4 |
| 2021-22 | NYK | 78 | 23 | 39.2 | 34.6 | 88.1 | 0.4 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 11.3 |
| 2022-23 | NYK | 81 | 29 | 44.8 | 37.0 | 81.9 | 0.7 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 3.4 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 14.9 |
| 2023-24 * | All Teams | 31 | 24 | 45.1 | 39.5 | 86.6 | 0.2 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 15.0 |
| 2023-24 | NYK | 30 | 24 | 45.4 | 39.5 | 87.2 | 0.2 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 15.0 |
| 2023-24 * | TOR | 1 | 28 | 38.5 | 40.0 | 66.7 | 0.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 14.0 |
| Total | 253 | 24 | 42.1 | 37.0 | 86.1 | 0.5 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 12.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
