Ian Begley: David Fizdale in an interview on NBATV on PGs Frank Ntilikina, Emmanuel Mudiay and Trey Burke: “I’m going to let them fight it out for who starts but I see all of them serving a purpose for the way I like to play.”
Emmanuel Mudiay Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: G
Born: 03/05/96
Height: 6-5 / 1.96
Weight:200 lbs. / 90.7 kg.
Salary: $4,294,479
Born: 03/05/96
Height: 6-5 / 1.96
Weight:200 lbs. / 90.7 kg.
Salary: $4,294,479
Mudiay is practicing with the Knicks summer-league team that debuts Saturday vs. Atlanta. He won’t play, though. “Just trying to pick up on some of the stuff that he’s teaching,” Mudiay said after Thursday’s summer-league practice. “I’m considered one of the young guys as well, so just coming out here trying to learn as much as I can and just show that I’m really invested. I want to learn as much as I can. He just teaches me how to be a better leader when I’m out there on the court. Just seeing what type of offense he’s going to run, what type of defense he’s going to run and kind of get that into my head. “I think he’ll help a lot. He’s been around some of the best of the best, if not the best in the world. I think his knowledge of the game and everything that he does — he’s really detailed — so that helps a lot, being more detailed.”
Fizdale saw the tapes and doesn’t sugarcoat it. He said Mudiay looked “uncertain and tight” in a Knicks uniform, but is now looking to resuscitate the 23-year-old’s career “I think a lot of it was uncertainty,” Fizdale said. “You come to a new team. You don’t want to ruffle any feathers. You already were a little insecure because it already didn’t work out where you were at. I think the combination of that stuff had him playing a little tight where he didn’t want to make mistakes.”
His first NBA trade proved a tough adjustment for Mudiay, as he tried learning Hornacek’s new offensive and defensive systems. Now, he’s got another offense to master. “It’s good, man,” Mudiay said. “It’s a lot of running, a lot of just spacing, creating opportunities for teammates. It’s going to be good for us, especially with the team we have. A lot of freedom. As long as you’re making plays and sharing the ball, that’s what he wants.”
On behalf of his foundation, Emmanuel Mudiay hosted dozens of young basketball players for a camp at the National Basketball Players Association on Saturday in conjunction with Go Hoop Day. He took some time to answer a few questions about the Knicks. Here, he talks about how all the players have a fresh start under new coach David Fizdale: “We’re all kind of starting from scratch. But it’s a positive scratch. It’s big to see that people are actually loving what the front office is doing, loving what the coaching staff is doing. Everybody’s supportive. So that’s a good thing.”
Mudiay was asked if it feels like a ‘new vibe’ under Fizdale. “For sure. It’s like night and day to be honest. You could just see people having confidence in themselves. And Fiz did a great job connecting with the players. Not only him but his coaching staff.” Mudiay plans to spend some time in New York during the rest of the offseason. The NBPA will host camps in New York City with other Knicks, including Tim Hardaway Jr., later this summer.
24 May
