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For those who were responsible and actually got work done today during a Friday afternoon, the New York Knicks had a press conference for its two most recent draft picks from the 2018 NBA draft. Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson showed up dapper(ish) with their media security guards in Steve Mills and Scott Perry (can we just start calling them Steve Perry moving forward?) flanking the two youngsters to answer the hard-hitting questions from the New York media.
And by “hard-hitting,” I mean the cookie-cutter questions that media always asks with the cookie-cutter responses.
Here is the stuff we learned from this presser:
We learned that Frank “Never Frankie Smokes (gross!)” Ntilikina and Damyean Dotson were in attendance.
Frank Ntilikina and Damyean Dotson are on hand for Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson’s introductory press conference at the team facility.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 22, 2018
We learned that Kevin Knox has the honor of wearing Allan Houston’s number 20 jersey.
David Fizdale, holding his arms up: "Can we do one where their fingers are touching like this?"
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) June 22, 2018
The Knicks all about wingspan now. pic.twitter.com/0gqeoGWU9D
We learned that Kevin Knox and The Unicorn FaceTimed last night, and they discussed how that lame-ass father-son duo and the rest of the chucklehead Knicks fans in Brooklyn booed Knox for not being Michael Porter Jr.
Kevin Knox says he and Kristaps Porzingis talked about being booed at the draft during their conversation last night. “It’s all motivation. It adds fuel to the fire,” Knox said Porzingis told him. “.... They’ll be cheering for you soon.”
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 22, 2018
Speaking of chuckleheads, the Knicks gave someone press credentials to ask about Kevin Knox’s Fortnite adventures.
Kevin Knox is a big Fortnite player. He wants to challenge Paul George. Heard he's already aiming for the crown of best Fortnite player in the NBA. I'm old and I've never played Fortnite so please don't ask me any follow up questions.
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) June 22, 2018
But before that ever-so impressive Fortnite revelation, Marc Berman of the New York Post tried to “gotcha” on Mitchell Robinson as to why he decided to not go to college and just train for the draft. But Steve Perry was having NONE of that, though Robinson did say that “I should just focus on basketball.”
Mitchell Robinson didn’t play basketball last season but Knicks GM Scott Perry said he saw Robinson enough in 2017 high school tournaments to recognize his athleticism. Robinson said he didn’t play this season in order to ‘focus on basketball’ prepare for the NBA.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 22, 2018
In all, we didn’t learn too much during this 24-minute Q&A. After the press conference was over, Big Daddy Fiz was available for questions and he mentioned that Knox has a chance to start at the 3, likes Knox’s mental makeup, and will allow the younglings to player through their mistakes.
David Fizdale says there is ‘absolutely’ a chance that Kevin Knox can start at small forward as a 19-year-old rookie.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 22, 2018
David Fizdale is impressed with Kevin Knox’s mental makeup: “Right from the beginning, this kid wanted to be a Knick. I’m crazy enough because I can relate: I asked to be a Knick. To ask for that you have to be a certain type of competitor.”
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 22, 2018
It seems like the young Knicks will have the chance to play through mistakes this season under David Fizdale. Younger Knicks had a shorter rope at times last year under Jeff Hornacek, who may have felt a pressure to win games - and play veterans - due to his contract status. https://t.co/u8PVN8FaUX
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 22, 2018
Music to my ears. I hope this actually happens.