New York Knicks Starting Lineup: Locks, fringe, potential break-ins

New York Knicks Starting Lineup: Potential Break-Ins

With the New York Knicks likely having four starting positions on lock, it leaves just the center position open, and that role will be filled by either Mitchell Robinson or Nerlens Noel. So, there’s not much wiggle room for young players to edge their way into the starting five. Nevertheless, if there’s one player that can do it, it’s Immanuel Quickley.

Immanuel Quickley

It’s not often a late first-round pick flourishes immediately upon entering the NBA, especially when a player is drafted earlier than expected. But Immanuel Quickley defied the odds.

The 6-foot-3 combo guard played college ball at Kentucky under John Calipari and won the 2019-20 SEC Player of the Year after averaging 16.1 points per game on 42.8 percent from 3. This degree of play translated to the professional level.

Quickley earned minutes in the first game of the season against the Indiana Pacers and became a regular rotation member for 64 games. He came off the bench in a scoring role with the ability to stretch the floor, often pulling from deep. And he did so with confidence.

Quickley shot well from distance during the season at 38.9 percent rate while taking 4.7 per contest. While his field-goal percentage needs some work (39.5 percent), he’s been efficient at the charity stripe, shooting 89.1 percent.

Even with Quickley’s strong rookie season, it’ll be difficult for him to bargain for a spot in the starting lineup. Kemba Walker and Derrick Rose hold the point guard position down, while Evan Fournier or RJ Barrett and Alec Burks are likely to be the shooting guards for the season. This, however, doesn’t take Quickley’s development into account.

If Quickley performs at an exceptional level off the bench and Walker or Fournier disappoints, Tom Thibodeau may be forced to make the call to bring Quickley into the starting five.

Sure, anyone on the Knicks can technically have a breakout season and barge into the starting lineup, but Quickley seems the most realistic of the remaining players — even if “realistic” is still far-fetched.