Meet the 2015-16 Knicks

By | 2016-10-28T17:41:04-08:00 September 24th, 2015|News|Comments Off on Meet the 2015-16 Knicks

Derek Fisher begins his second season as coach of the New York Knicks in earnest next week, when the Knicks open training camp in West Point, New York, and the team will have a much different look from a year ago when Coach Fisher took the reins for the first time.

Only six players who ended the season on the Knicks’ roster—Lou Amundson, Carmelo Anthony, Jose Calderon, Cleanthony Early, Langston Galloway and Lance Thomas—remain, and only four of those players began last season with the Knicks. The left room for a number of new additions, and fresh faces in the locker room who will begin their first year with New York this season.

With training camp set to tip off at Tues., Sept. 29, it’s time to meet the new look Knicks who will work under Coach Fisher in the coming weeks.

CARMELO ANTHONY, F

  • Consensus All-American and NCAA champion as freshman at Syracuse, where his No. 15 is retired.
  • 12-year veteran, 8-time NBA All-Star, 6-time All-NBA selection, won NBA scoring title in 2013.
  • Has averaged 26.1 points, 7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game over 4 1/2 seasons with Knicks.

“I think Carmelo is continuing to find out more and more about not just statistically leading his team, but emotionally (and) psychologically,” D-Fish said. “Guys are following him, and he’s setting a tone out there, and he’s playing defense, he’s doing a lot of things that are forcing guys to get to his level, and I’m proud of him, and proud of where he is right now despite being limited.”

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JOSE CALDERON, G

  • Two-time Olympic silver medalist with the Spanish National Team.
  • Has averaged 10.2 points, 6.7 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game in 10 NBA seasons.
  • Was a floor leader for Knicks in 2014-15 before his season was cut short due to an Achilles injury.

“That’s why we like to have Jose on our roster,” Derek said. “He’s a 90-percent free-throw shooter, he’s a 40-percent three-point shooter, he makes good decisions with the basketball.”

ARRON AFFLALO, G

  • Named Pac-12 Conference Player of the Year in 2007 while at UCLA.
  • Averaged 18.2 points per game (career-high) for the Orlando Magic during 2013-14 season.
  • 8-year NBA veteran, played alongside Carmelo Anthony for two seasons with the Denver Nuggets.

“Arron Afflalo is a pro, one of the hardest working guys in the league,” Coach Fish said. “Also, a physical guy that can guard multiple players.”

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 10: Kyle O'Quinn #9 , Arron Afflalo #4 and Derek Fisher of the New York Knicks pose for a photo during a press conference on July 10, 2015 at the Wynn Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Tom Donoghue/NBAE via Getty Images)

KYLE O’QUINN, F

  • New York native, born in Flushing and attended Campus Magnet in Cambria Heights, NY.
  • 2012 MEAC Player of the Year, led Norfolk State to first NCAA tournament bid and first round upset of No. 2 Missouri.
  • Averaged 5.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists per game in three seasons with the Orlando Magic.

“We like what Kyle O’Quinn does in terms of his ability to handle the basketball, shoot it, and play from the elbow down, really good passer,” D-Fish said.

ROBIN LOPEZ, C

  • Played at Stanford University with twin brother, Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez.
  • Earned Blazers’ Maurice Lucas Award in 2014 for “outstanding community involvement.”
  • 7-year NBA veteran has averaged 8.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.2 blocks per game.

“We needed size up front and we talked a lot about defending and rebounding being areas that we had to focus on and so we feel like Robin in the middle does that for us,” Fisher said. “He is one of the best centers in the game in terms of anchoring the middle of the floor.”

KRISTAPS PORZINGIS, F/C

  • 20-year-old Latvian big man selected by the Knicks fourth overall in the 2015 NBA Draft.
  • Played three seasons in Spain, averaging 17.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per 36 minutes.
  • Averaged 10.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.8 blocks per game in 2015 Las Vegas Summer League.

“Defensively, he has the potential to be really special,” Fish said. “He’s aggressive. He doesn’t look physically overpowering, but he plays a strong game. He’s not afraid to go in there and mix it up. He’ll have the ability to do more things offensively in time.”

CLEANTHONY EARLY, F

  • Bronx, NY native, drafted 34th overall by Knicks in 2014 NBA Draft.
  • 2nd-team NCAA All-American averaged 16.4 ppg and led Wichita State to 34-1 record as a senior.
  • Averaged 5.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 39 appearances, including seven starts as a rookie.

“We talked to him about not worrying about the shot as much,

[but] as a young player, to find what it is you can do to help the team,’’ Derek said. “Defensive energy and being a guy who plays with passion is what attracted everyone to him and why we drafted him. Those are the things we want to see from Cle every night. And if he makes a shot, we’ll take that as well.”

THANASIS ANTETOKOUNMPO, F

  • Born in Athens, Greece, younger brother of Milwaukee Bucks guard Giannis Antetokounmpo.
  • Selected by the Knicks 51st overall in 2014 NBA Draft and has spent two seasons in D-League.
  • Two-time D-League All-Defense pick, has also averaged 12.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.7 blocks, 1.6 steals.

“I enjoyed working with him when I had the opportunity in the summer,” said Derek. “He’s a hard-working young man and passionate about the game and loves to play defense. There’s few of those guys left in this business. I think his potential is whatever he wants it to be.”

LANGSTON GALLOWAY, G

  • Played at Saint Joseph’s University and was named first-team All-Atlantic 10 in 2014 as a senior.
  • Undrafted free agent earned a spot with NY D-League club after a strong 2014 Summer League.
  • Joined Knicks in January and made instant impact as clutch shooter, averaged 11.8 points per game.

“He continues to make plays and do what he’s shown the ability to do,” Coach Fish said. “He can make shots and he’s tough minded. Through mistakes and different experiences out there on the floor, he just continues to keep coming back no matter what happens. That’s what’s impressive about him.”

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LOU AMUNDSON, F

  • 9-year NBA veteran who has played for 10 teams in his career, including 3 playoff appearances
  • Made 35 starts with the Knicks last year after being acquired in January from Cleveland.
  • Achieved career-highs of 6.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.3 blocks & 20.9 minutes per game.

“There’s a level of humility and integrity that makes everybody want to pull for Lou,” Coach Fish said. “To be on as many teams as he has been on and to not accept ‘no’ for an answer, and every time he gets a chance to put on a jersey, he just goes all in. He’s willing to go through a brick wall for himself and for his team. Things have changed a lot since he’s been here, and it’s great to have guys like that.”

LANCE THOMAS, F

  • Brooklyn, NY native played at Duke, where he spent four seasons under coach Mike Krzyzewski.
  • 4-year NBA veteran was D-League All-Star before making NBA debut with New Orleans in 2011.
  • Traded to Knicks in January 2015, played in 40 games and averaged 8.3 ppg—both career-highs.

“I’m not sure if there are more positive things to say about him and what he has done since he joined our team,” Fish said. “He has changed our team and changed our culture because he’s a great young man. He comes to work everyday with the same attitude and mindset, and despite our record, we’re better off having had him. You have to celebrate the small successes in life.”

SASHA VUJACIC, G

  • After three years in Italy, drafted 27th overall in 2004 NBA Draft by Los Angeles Lakers.
  • 8-year NBA veteran played 420 games over parts of seven seasons in Lakers’ Triangle offense.
  • Won two NBA titles alongside D-Fish with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010.

KEVIN SERAPHIN, F

  • Earned a silver medal with the French National Team in the 2011 FIBA European Championship.
  • Played 3 seasons in France, earned LNB Pro A Most Improved Player, drafted 17th overall in 2010.
  • Spent five seasons with Washington Wizards and averaged 6.4 ppg and 3.7 rpg in reserve role.

DERRICK WILLIAMS, F

  • Consensus All-American and Pac-12 Player of the Year in 2010 at the University of Arizona.
  • Drafted 2nd overall in 2011 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
  • 4-year NBA veteran averaged 9.3 points and 4.3 rebounds with Minnesota and Sacramento.

“He’s played for three coaches in the last three days, it seems, up in Sacramento, and we hope some stability here will be good for him,” Coach Fisher said. “We like his versatility and his athleticism. We think he’ll be able to do a lot of things for us.”

JERIAN GRANT, G

  • Consensus first-team All-American and ACC Tournament MVP at Notre Dame.
  • Selected 19th overall in 2015 NBA Draft by Wizards and traded to Knicks for Tim Hardaway Jr.
  • Averaged 11.8 points, 4.8 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 1.6 steals per game in five Summer League starts.

“His ability complements so many different players and situations,” Derek said. “I think defensively he complements guys because of his length and rim protection. He’s pretty active and can guard multiple guys. And I think offensively because of his ability to stretch the floor as well as do some things around the basket…I think he’s a player that just about fits with any lineup no matter how you’re trying to play.”

DAJUAN SUMMERS, F

  • Selected 35th overall by the Detroit Pistons in 2009 NBA Draft, played parts of four seasons in NBA.
  • Named to All-D-League team and selected as a D-League All-Star for Maine Red Claws in 2013.
  • Won 2014 Ukrainian Basketball League championship with Budivelnyk Kiev.

DARION ATKINS, F

  • Named Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 while at the Virginia.
  • Won Lefty Driesell Award, given to the National Defensive Player of the Year in College Basketball.
  • Signed with Knicks after averaging 3.0 points and 1.1 steals per game with Spurs in Summer League.

WESLEY SAUNDERS, G/F

  • Three-time first-team All-Ivy League honoree while at Harvard University.
  • Averaged 16.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg and 4.3 apg as a senior to earn 2014 Ivy League Player of the Year.
  • Averaged 3.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.2 apg and 1.4 steals per game in 2015 NBA Summer League for Jazz.

TRAVIS TRICE, G

  • 4-year player at Michigan State, helped Spartans to two Sweet 16 appearances and one Final Four.
  • 3rd-team All Big Ten as a senior, averaging 15.3 ppg and 5.1 apg. Logged 19 ppg on Final Four run.
  • Undrafted but averaged 5.5 points per game for the Miami Heat in 2015 NBA Summer League.

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