CHARLESTON, S.C. — Karl-Anthony Cities’ debut will seemingly be Sunday.
Tom Thibodeau stated he plans on taking part in the starters collectively within the preseason opener at Charlotte, together with newcomer Cities — offering Knicks followers with their first glimpse at one of many league’s prime level guard-center tandems with Jalen Brunson.
“I’m able to see the place we’re,” Brunson stated. “Every single day is a check, and we get to see the place we’re and transfer on from there.”
Thibodeau cautioned that he first must seek the advice of with the medical workers and Sunday’s rotation isn’t “finalized.”
However Cities has been a full participant in coaching camp regardless of his late arrival and is keen to swimsuit up in Charlotte, in accordance with Thibodeau.
“I believe he desires to play and he’s been going full tilt thus far so we’ll see the place he’s after [Saturday’s practice],” the coach stated.
Requested if Cities, who underwent knee surgical procedure in March, is concerned by an harm that might necessitate the session with the medical workers, Thibodeau stated conversations about well being is normal with all his gamers throughout coaching camp.
He added that the rotations gained’t resemble the common season’s till the preseason finale Oct. 18 in opposition to the Wizards.
“Now, we begin incorporating the video games,” Thibodeau stated. “After which every recreation, you’ll improve to construct up till the final recreation which is admittedly the sport the place you need your rhythm and rotation. You in all probability gained’t be precisely at your minutes and rotation however you’ll be near it by the final recreation.”
Cities missed three coaching camp classes whereas awaiting the finalization of the commerce from the Timberwolves, a deal that was held up as a result of one of many necessary salary-matching items, Duane Washington Jr., additionally wanted to barter a buyout with a European workforce.
Cities stated Saturday that he was unfazed by the missed practices due to his built-in conditioning.
“I practice tremendously arduous within the offseason, so I’m prepared for no matter this season has in retailer for me,” he stated. “Missed a pair days of coaching camp. It was the work I put within the offseason that paid dividends, particularly early on.”
Thibodeau hinted that returning forwards Josh Hart and OG Anunoby are projected starters. Newcomer Mikal Bridges will occupy the opposite spot.
“It’s new for KAT, nevertheless it’s new for lots of different gamers as nicely,” Brunson stated. “We’ve acquired to get everybody on top of things. It’s a brand new workforce, completely different items, so now we have to ensure we focus.”
The opportunity of a Brunson-Cities pick-and-roll is essentially the most tantalizing facet of the new-look Knicks.
Together with Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid-Tyrese Maxey and Denver’s Nikola Jokic-Jamal Murray, the Knicks are within the operating for the highest duo at their paired positions.
It ought to begin Sunday, however Brunson warned of a studying curve.
“I simply really feel prefer it’s gonna be a studying course of,” Brunson stated. “Every single day is gonna be a problem for us to get higher. It’s not gonna be good from Day 1, however as lengthy now we have the proper mindset, we’re gonna proceed to get higher.”
