Point guard has a good start for the Toronto Raptors, but reveals that he has not yet fully absorbed his departure from New York
The fans of New York Knicks never expected the New York team to acquire OG Anunoby in an exchange for Immanuel Quickley – in addition to RJ Barrett. And it seems that no one has any regrets, especially because both teams have been having good games with their new players. However, the point guard revealed that he still hasn’t fully absorbed his departure and that he was surprised by the transition to the Canada.
“We all know this league is a business. But when it happens out of nowhere, it’s tough. It was shocking to me because there was no speculation. I just woke up in an Indiana hotel after a nap and there was a text message from my manager. ‘Call me. You are being exchanged’. It was quick, direct and, above all, without warning. I’m still a little in shock.”revealed the point guard, in a text for the website “The Players’ Tribune”.
Numerous rumors took over behind the scenes of the NBA, but the change didn’t happen overnight. Quickley and the Knicks were unable to reach an agreement on a contract extension during the offseason and there was speculation that the player would be interested in leaving the team to start for another team. But nothing prepared the shipowner for the end of the story. “My heart just stopped. It didn’t feel real. And before I could get in touch with my agent, Knicks management was already calling. He wasn’t one of the assistants, but one of the ‘bosses’. And as soon as I answered, he started crying. I knew then that it wasn’t a dream or anything like that. That was real: my career in New York was over.”he commented.
“I’m still in shock because I grew up in New York, in a way. When I was selected in the draft, I was 21 years old. I still felt like a kid back then. I have a memory, for example, of the first day at the team’s training center. I remember the distribution of the vests and not being in the top ten. It was the moment to understand the level I was reaching”said the 24-year-old player, who was drafted by the Knicks themselves in 25th overall in the Draft.
But, Quickley now projects his future with many more minutes within the Raptors, who had a gap since the departure of Fred VanVleet. “Immanuel fit in very well here. He is a point guard, first and foremost, capable of doing a lot with the ball in his hands. Defenses can’t rush him because he has a great combination of jump shot and speed. This creates space for all other athletes on the court”admitted the coach Darko Rajakovic.
Source: sportbuzz
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