And so far, Quickley has made the Knicks’ inaction look silly. His production and impact has been so good that he might play his way into the starting lineup, a $30 million annual contract, and maybe an entirely different locker room.
Through 16 games, Quickley is averaging a career-high 15.9 points on 50.5 percent shooting from the field and 37.5 percent from behind the arc. He’s also reeled in 3.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists while continually being one of the team’s most impactful defenders in just 25 minutes per night.
Per-36 minutes, he’d be producing at a 23-5-5 line with plus defense, a feat that can be matched by only a handful of guards in the league.
Given how many games he’s closed for the Knicks this season and prior, it’s safe to say he’s no bench novelty, but one of the best two-way guards in basketball.
When you factor in his efficiency and how great he is on defense you understand why he’s getting paid.