Throughout his second season with the Nets, the frequently injured Simmons has averaged 10.8 rebounds and 6.5 points in his previous six games.
DAY-TO-DAY MILLER AFTER AN ANKLE INJURY VS. KNICKS, NOVEMBER 13 Due to an ankle injury, rookie Brandon Miller of the Charlotte Hornets is regarded as day-to-day after having to leave Sunday’s game against the New York Knicks early.
“He tried to come back in,” Hornets head coach Steve Clifford said, per Sam Perley of the Hornets’ official site. “I think it’ll be more day-to-day. We’ll see how he feels tomorrow getting treatment and stuff and hopefully, he’s good by Tuesday.”
According to Sam Perley of the Hornets’ official website, head coach Steve Clifford stated, “He tried to come back in.” “I anticipate it will be more daily. Hopefully, by Tuesday, he will be well after receiving treatment and seeing how he feels tomorrow.
EXTENSION OF MICHAEL Malone’S CONTRACT, NOVEMBER 13 There is a little more job security for a former New York Knicks assistant coach.
Five months after winning the NBA Finals, Michael Malone was signed to a contract extension by the Denver Nuggets, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. From 2001 to 2005, Malone served as the Knicks’ head coach, working with Don Chaney, Herb Williams, and Lenny Wilkens.
NOVEMBER 12: AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT, KELLY OUBRE LEAVES ‘SIGNIFICANT’ TIME A rival of the New York Knicks is coping with the consequences of a terrifying vehicle mishap.
Kelly Oubre Jr., a guard for the Philadelphia 76ers, was hit by a car on Saturday in Philadelphia; as a result, he has broken ribs, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. Oubre’s injuries aren’t thought to be fatal to the season.
The Knicks and Oubre and the 76ers will next play on January 5 in Philadelphia.
WINTER WHACKS DEFENDING G LEAGUE CHAMPS, NOVEMBER 11 The Westchester Knicks opened the 2023–24 G League season in spectacular fashion, defeating the Delaware Blue Coats (Philadelphia) 135–103 on Friday night behind a 25–point, 13–assist double-double from Brandon Goodwin.
With 26 points, Duane Washington Jr. led New York, and Isaiah Roby finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds for his own double-double. Charlie Brown Jr., who played for the Blue Coats the previous season, finished with 18 points and collected his championship ring from Delaware.
On Sunday afternoon at Westchester County Center, Westchester (1-0) will play its home opener against the Maine Celtics (Boston) (3 p.m. ET, MSGSN). After playing their previous three seasons in Bridgeport, Connecticut, this will be their first game in White Plains since 2020.
VASSELL IN VS KNICKS ON NOVEMBER 8 Devin Vassell will suit up and play in the San Antonio Spurs’ Wednesday night trip to Madison Square Garden to take on the New York Knicks (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG), according to Shams Charania.
Despite being initially marked as doubtful on the injury report, Vassell (groin) reportedly participated in San Antonio’s pregame warmups. He has missed the Spurs’ last two games, both of which were losses, and is currently tied for the San Antonio lead in scoring with Victor Wembanyama at 19.4 points per game.
PLUMLEE SPRAINS MCL IN RANDLE COLLISION ON NOVEMBER 7 Los Angeles Clippers center Mason Plumlee suffered an MCL sprain after colliding with New York Knicks forward Julius Randle during their Monday night match at Madison Square Garden, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Plumlee will be returned to Los Angeles for additional assessment and will not participate in the Clippers’ Wednesday night game against Brooklyn (7:30 p.m. ET, YES).
Plumee was hurt while battling Randle for the ball in the second half of play. Plumlee needed help getting off the floor and into the locker room after the latter’s low dive caught him in the knee. Prior to departing the floor, Randle expressed regret to Plumlee.
The Clippers (3-3) have a dearth of interior depth because they dealt away a significant portion of it when they acquired James Harden. The team is currently on a three-game road trip, which ends on Friday night in Dallas.
CLIPPERS SIGN PRIMO NOVEMBER 6 PRIOR TO KNICKS BATTLE In addition to James Harden, the Los Angeles Clippers have added another new player to their roster. The team plays the New York Knicks tonight (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG).
The Clippers have signed former San Antonio Spurs guard Josh Primo to a standard deal, as reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic. Prior to that, he had a two-way contract with the team.
Following “conduct detrimental” to the NBA, Primo, 20, was cut by the San Antonio Spurs less than a year after being selected with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. According to reports, Primo had been unsuitably exposing himself to women, including the organization’s former psychologist Dr. Hillary Cauthen. Later that November, Dr. Cauthen filed a lawsuit against Primo and the Spurs, which was settled.
NICKS TICKETS PRICED IN THE NBA IN NOVEMBER 3 It will set you back a good bit of money to see a New York Knicks game.
In order to find the lowest prices for four tickets, two 16-ounce beers, two 20-ounce sodas, four hot dogs, and a parking space at each of the 29 NBA arenas, Axios conducted a study. With a total of $745.18, more than $100 more than the second-place team, the Golden State Warriors, Chase Center was far behind the Knicks in first place. A little over $300 is the NBA average.
This is hardly shocking considering that the Knicks are a New York City team, but it does demonstrate how expensive tickets to Madison Square Garden games can be.
NOVEMBER 1: CAVS VS. BARRETT Due to a sore left knee, RJ Barrett will not play in the Knicks’ game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, the team has announced.
Barrett, who has averaged 21 points over the first four games, has been the Knicks’ top scorer thus far. Having participated in at least 70 games in each of the previous three seasons, he has proven to be one of the more resilient Knicks in recent memory. Barrett’s place is anticipated to be taken by Josh Hart.
31 OCT SLIPPERS LAND HARDEN, James On Halloween, the Los Angeles Clippers may have acquired the best trick-or-treat celebrity in the NBA.
James Harden will be sent to the Pacific as part of a deal reached by the Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Philadelphia regains Marcus Morris, Rober Covington, KJ Martin, Nic Batum, an unprotected first-round pick in 2028, and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2026 first-round selection. Additionally, Filip Petrusev and PJ Tucker are sent to Los Angeles.
BREEN SIGNS EXTENSION WITH WORLDWIDE LEADER ON OCTOBER 31 One of the New York Knicks’ most cherished representatives recently received a sizable salary to remain off the market, despite the team’s general silence on free agency.
According to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post, Mike Breen and ESPN have agreed to a multi-million dollar two-year contract extension that will keep Breen calling the biggest NBA games on the Worldwide Leader’s broadcasts until the 2026–2027 campaign. The 62-year-old Breen has been with ESPN/ABC since 2006 and is the primary television play-by-play voice of the Knicks for MSG Network.
Marchand points out that a portion of the agreement depends on ESPN maintaining its NBA rights, which expire following the 2024–25 season. Breen was part of the new top pairing with Doris Burke and Doc Rivers, after former Knicks representatives Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy were let go as part of ESPN’s summer layoffs. The trio debuted at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night, narrating the Knicks’ defeat to the Boston Celtics on opening night.
KNICKS IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT COURT REVEALED ON OCTOBER 30 The 30 teams’ In-Season Tournament games begin Friday night, and the NBA unveiled new court designs that will be used for each of those games. Every court seems to have been influenced by the “City” edition uniform of the corresponding team.
On Friday, Nov. 24, the court will open against the Miami Heat.
OCTOBER 22: KNICKS AND WINDLER FINALIZE ROSTER, WASHINGTON The New York Knicks’ 2023–24 opening night roster is set, barring any last-minute additions.
The Knicks will turn Dylan Windler’s contract into a standard one, according to Keith Smith of Spotrac, while Ian Begley of SNY disclosed that Duane Washington Jr. will receive the final two-way designation.
Windler, 27, was selected by Cleveland in the first round of the 2019 draft out of Belmont. Last season, he made three appearances for the Cavaliers and eleven appearances with their G League affiliate, the Charge, where he shot over 40 percent from three-point range. Conversely, Washington, who joined the team midway through the season, is back in the Knicks system. In four appearances with G League Westchester, he averaged more than 20 points per game. He played 31 games with Phoenix.
October 21st: TOPPIN ON TWO-WAY DEALS AND BROWN The New York Knicks are converting Charlie Brown Jr. and Jacob Toppin’s contracts to two-way agreements, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. The Knicks also waived Isaiah Roby, Duane Washington Jr., Mamadi Diakite, and Brandon Goodwin.
With 19.8 points per game this season, Brown—who played a major role in the Delaware Blue Coats’ championship run last season—led the Knicks in scoring in Vegas Summer League action. He played in all four of the Knicks’ preseason games, netting two assists and grabbing three rebounds in addition to three points. Toppin, the younger brother of former Knick Obi, participated in just one preseason game and finished the first game against Boston with four points and two rebounds.
October 20 Toppin travels between the pacers’ legs. The Obi Toppin era of the Indiana Pacers has officially begun.
In front of the crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the Pacers’ preseason finale against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Toppin—a former member of the Knicks—had one more highlight for them. He scored a game-winning basket in the first period of play.
Following the controversy surrounding his playing time in New York, Toppin has started for the Pacers in all four of their preseason games. Toppin has averaged 7.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in just over 17 minutes per game during that time. On Friday, he led Indiana to a 56-51 halftime lead with an Indiana-best 13 points in 17 first-half minutes.
This season, Toppin and the Pacers will play the Knicks three times, with the first meeting taking place in Indianapolis on December 30. Meanwhile, on Wednesday night at home against the Washington Wizards (7 p.m. ET, Bally Sports Indiana), Toppin will make his official Indiana debut.
October 19: Sign two to exhibit ten items. Nathan Knight was released from his two-way contract on Thursday, according to SNY’s Ian Begley, which marked the continuation of the Knicks’ roster purge. The Knicks also signed Brandon Goodwin and Mamadi Diakite to Exhibit 10 contracts (which can be converted into two-way agreements).
The previous three years, Knight, 26, was a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves organization. Knight scored his lone field goal attempt and pulled down a block, rebound, and assist in just over eight minutes of preseason action. With Jaylen Martin bidding farewell on Wednesday, a two-way contract slot became available, and Knight’s departure will make it the second in a row.
Regarding the newcomers, who are probably going to travel to Westchester, Diakite has been on a number of teams since winning a national championship with Florida State in 2019. In addition, he has an NBA ring after participating in 21 games for the Milwaukee Bucks, the 2020–21 champions. In addition to being a seasoned traveler, Goodwin has already played in Westchester once, averaging 15.3 points and 7.0 assists in 2021. In 2022, he played his final NBA game with Cleveland.
October 18: KNICKS CROSS MARTIN AND ROBY On Wednesday, the New York Knicks will say goodbye to two of their players.
The Knicks are asking for the waivers of two-way player Jaylen Martin and center Isaiah Roby, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
In April, Roby signed a contract with the Knicks, and Martin joined the team specifically to play in the Las Vegas Summer League. Though not enough to make the final roster heading into the season, both made an impression in training.
DIVINCENZO LANDS ANTA SHOE DEAL OCTOBER 12 There are new kicks on this Knick.
Nick DePaula of Boardroom reports that DiVincenzo has consented to a shoe deal with ANTA. DiVincenzo, a recent addition to the Knicks, was formerly connected to Puma and Nike. Together with Gordon Hayward, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson, he becomes a member of the ANTA family. On Monday night, DiVincenzo made his unofficial Knicks debut, going 8 for 8 with 3 rebounds in a 114-107 victory over Boston.
October 10: A Legend of Liberty Traveling to Chicago
Following the Finals, Teresa Weatherspoon has won her own prize while her former team attempts to win WNBA glory.
The former star of the New York Liberty is expected to take over as head coach of the Chicago Sky, according to Shams Charania. Throughout her seven seasons in New York (1997–2003), Weatherspoon—one of the Liberty’s founding legends—earned five WNBA All-Star bids and cemented her place as one of the league’s original faces. The former Louisiana Tech employee served as an assistant coach for the New Orleans Pelicans for the last four NBA seasons after previously working in the Liberty’s development program. In addition, she oversaw six seasons as head coach at her alma mater (2009–14), where she made two trips to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.
Two years have passed since Chicago won a WNBA championship, in part thanks to current Liberty star Courtney Vandersloot. Halfway through the summer, former head coach James Wade accepted a position as a bench player for the Toronto Raptors, and the team suffered its first losing season (18-22) since 2018. For the remainder of the season, veteran assistant Emre Vatansever took charge, and the Liberty team finished with a first-round playoff loss to their current rivals in the Finals, Las Vegas.
ARCDIACONO TO SIT AMONG CELTICS STARS ON OCTOBER 9 HART
The New York Knicks’ preseason opener against the Boston Celtics on Monday (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG) will not feature either Josh Hart (maintenance) or Ryan Arcidiacono (undisclosed), according to Steve Popper of Newsday. Following their involvement in a trade between Portland and the Knicks during the previous year’s trade deadline, the Villanova pair will now play together in New York.
There are even more players missing from Boston than just Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Jayson Tatum, and SNY’s Ian Begley.
OCTOBER 8 TOPPIN, ROSE START PACERS-GRIZZLIES PRESEASON OPENER
In his unofficial debut with the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, Obi Toppin achieved his goal of getting more playing time. The former Knick was starting in the starting lineup and finished with seven points and five rebounds in 16 minutes during a 127-122 overtime loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Toppin scored all of his points during the first 4:30 of the game as Indiana (0-1) jumped out to an early lead of 14–10.
Conversely, Derrick Rose also started for the Grizzlies and scored 13 points in the victory by shooting 6-of-8 from the field, including 5-of-5 in the first half.
After enduring difficult times with the Knicks the previous season, Toppin and Rose aim to rewrite the history of their individual NBA careers. Rose was taken out of the starting nine-man rotation early on, and Toppin—who was selected eighth overall in the 2020 draft—struggled to establish a consistent role.
OCTOBER 1 TARGET HOLIDAY CELTICS TRADE FOR KNICKS
Jrue Holiday, a two-time All-Star, has reportedly been traded to the Boston Celtics, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. This means that Holiday could be headed back to the New York Knicks.
While his former employers, the Portland Trail Blazers, acquire Deandre Ayton, Robert Williams, Malcolm Brogdon, Toumani Camara, and three first-round picks in 2024 (Golden State, top four protected), 2029 (Bucks and Celtics, unprotected), and 2028 and 2030 Milwaukee pick swaps, Holiday, who was previously part of the trade that sent Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks, heads to Beantown. Following their run to the Eastern Conference Finals, Wojnarowski reports that Boston is anticipated to sign Holiday to a long-term contract.
NBA ALUMS WARN OF TRADE DANGER ON SEPTEMBER 29
James Harden, the star player for the Philadelphia 76ers right now, was engaged in a calculated verbal duel with team president Daryl Morey after receiving dire warnings from Matt Barnes and Kevin Garnett about his excessive trade demands. Barnes was especially important because he was a seasoned NBA nomad with nine teams over 14 seasons in the Association.
“I think James has to be careful because the NBA doesn’t need him. The NBA doesn’t need him anymore,” Barnes said on Showtime Basketball. “I’m all for player empowerment. But he forced his way out of Houston, forced his way out of Brooklyn. Now, he’s going to force his way out of Philly. He’s got so much talent and a lot of game left, but he could talk himself out of the league, which is crazy to think.”
Garnett concurred with Barnes’ analysis, despite not being as itinerant.
“When you wiggle your way out, you only got one or two wiggles,” Garnett said. “You ain’t got infinite wiggles.”
Harden is scheduled to report to the Philadelphia Eagles’ training camp, but it looks like he will keep pushing for a release. It was reported earlier this summer by ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne that Harden’s favorite teams to play for are the Los Angeles Clippers or the Knicks.
WESTCHESTER KNICKS TRADE TREVOR KEELS’ RIGHTS TO IOWA, September 25
The Trevor Keels era is officially over for the New York Knicks organization as the Westchester G League club sent the Iowa Wolves their 2022 NBA Draft selection in exchange for Matt Lewis’s rights and a 2024 first-round pick in the G League Draft.
Keels was the only named pick the Knicks made on draft night in 2022, as they had spent the majority of the evening constructing a budget for Jalen Brunson. The former Duke player and the 42nd overall pick in the draft saw limited action for the big club (eight minutes over three games), but in 24 games with Westchester, he averaged 14.5 points on slightly over 42 percent shooting. The Knicks waived Keels earlier in the offseason.
Lewis, who spent two seasons with Minnesota’s affiliate in Iowa, is now a member of Westchester. He was previously with James Madison. In the most recent Summer League action, Lewis played for Brooklyn’s team off the bench, averaging 11.2 points per game and shooting more than 54% from the field.
Patrick Ewing’s daughter commits to Penn State on September 24.
Penn Station was above her father’s head. She will be a Penn State star.
The Knicks legend Patrick’s daughter, Alexis Ewing, declared on her Instagram page that she would be attending Penn State University, calling herself “incredibly blessed.” Posing with her mother Cheryl Wilson, a former professional volleyball player, and father Patrick, Ewing, the younger, is one of the best high school volleyball players in the country.
Alexis, who is currently playing basketball for Bullis High School in Maryland (which is located less than 20 minutes from Patrick’s alma mater, Georgetown University), has garnered attention both on and off the court. Notably, she is one of the first athletes in the state to break through to the professional ranks. she signed on with College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving with an image and likeness deal.
KNICKS TO HOLD A TRAINING CAMP AT THE CITADEL ON SEPTEMBER 21
The New York Knicks will hold portions of their training camp on the campus of The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, according to Andrew Miller of The Post and Courier. It is anticipated that New York will visit Charleston from October 3–7. The team’s stay will come to an end soon after, as they head back home to play the Boston Celtics in Madison Square Garden on October 9 in preparation for the preseason.
During their trip to the South, the Knicks will hold practices at McAlister Field House, the Bulldogs’ home court. The Knicks, who left in 2000 in protest over South Carolina’s continued flying of the Confederate battle flag above its statehouse, will be returning to Charleston this autumn for training camp at the College of Charleston. In 2015, the flag was taken down.
The Citadel, an NCAA Division I men’s basketball team, will play its home opener against North Carolina State on November 6, 2023–24.
KNICKS FLAGSHIP STATION DROPPING FM SIGNAL SEPTEMBER 19
On August 31, 2024, ESPN New York (WEPN) will cease to broadcast on its FM signal, according to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post. 1050, the station’s AM signal, will continue to broadcast.
The Knicks, Jets, and Rangers’ primary radio outlet is ESPN New York. Parent company Good Karma Brands made the decision, citing 1050 AM and digital outlets as reasons why 60% of listeners access the station in addition to the 98.7 FM feed. Since the Knicks switched from WFAN to WEPN in 2005, WEPN has served as their flagship station.
“We’re committed to serving the New York sports fan,” Good Karma Brands CEO Craig Karmazin told The Post. “With the combination of our AM signal, the ESPN New York App, podcasts, smart speakers, YES, and other additional audio and video distribution, investing in an FM signal was not relevant in the way it was a decade ago.”
The most well-known original program on ESPN New York is “The Michael Kay Show,” which is presented by the play-by-play voice of the New York Yankees, of the same name. Since 2017, Ed Cohen and Brendan Brown have hosted Knicks games.
DAMYEAN DOTSON SIGNS IN CHINA SEPTEMBER 17
Former Knicks guard Damyean Dotson is joining the Chinese Basketball Association’s Ningbo Rockets, according to Sportando, giving him a new home away from home.
The 29-year-old Dotson was a member of the Knicks from 2017 to 20 and again from 2021 to 2022 for two games each. He averaged 14.8 points and three assists per game while playing for Gaziantep Basketbol in Turkey the previous season.
WESTCHESTER KNICKS TRADE FOR RJ BARRETT TEAMMATE September 15
In addition to acquiring Jeriah Horne, the former RJ Barrett collegiate teammate Alex O’Connell was sent to the Westchester Knicks by the Stockton Kings of the NBA G League. James Akinjo, who averaged 14.1 points and 6.6 assists per game for Westchester last season, is being sent to Sacramento’s affiliate in exchange.
At the moment, Horne and O’Connell are both deployed abroad. During Barrett’s one season in Durham, O’Connell (Italy’s Umana Venezia) began playing with Duke before moving to Creighton. In three games (one start) with Sacramento’s Summer League squad during the most recent tournament in Las Vegas, he averaged 9.6 points per game. During his collegiate career, Horne (MKS Dabrowa Gornicza from Poland) attended Nebraska, Tulsa, and Colorado. During his time with Stockton last year, he shot more than 39 percent from three-point range.
SILVER REACTS TO KNICKS’ RAPTORS LAWSUIT ON SEPTEMBER 13
The New York Knicks’ lawsuit against the Toronto Raptors was mentioned in passing by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver at a press conference focused on the recently released Player Participation Policy.
“On that dispute, I don’t know more than what I read in the complaint that was filed in federal court, and so I don’t have a sense yet of how egregious it is, and I haven’t had an opportunity to see what the Raptors response is,” Silver said (h/t New York Basketball on X). “This ultimately may end up in front of me, so I think it’s appropriate to withhold judgment.”
The Knicks are suing the Raptors for allegedly stealing proprietary materials; Ike Azotam, a former team member, and Darko Rajaković, the new head coach of Toronto, are named as defendants. The management of Toronto has refuted any misconduct.
DRAFTKINGS PROMO REFERENCES SEPTEMBER 11 9/11
DraftKings, a sports betting website, came under fire for a crass promotion that featured a parlay honoring the terrible events of September 11, 2001. DraftKings provided a “Never Forget” parlay on Monday night, the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks that took down the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers in Lower Manhattan. The parlay was based on the three New York teams (Jets, Mets, and Yankees) winning their respective games.
Following an overwhelming negative response, DraftKings retracted the promotion and apologized to Michael Silverman of The Boston Globe.
“We sincerely apologize for the featured parlay that was shared briefly in commemoration of 9/11,” DraftKings said. “We respect the significance of this day for our country and especially for the familys [sic] of those who were directly affected.”
SEPTEMBER 10 GERMANY WINS FIBA WORLD CUP
With an 83-77 victory over Serbia in Manila, Germany wrapped up an undefeated FIBA Basketball World Cup run. This was the program’s first championship and its first podium finish since finishing third in 2002.
After scoring 28 points in the championship game, Dennis Schroder of Toronto was named the tournament’s MVP. Franz Wagner of Orlando chipped in with 19 points as well.
Aleksa Avramovic led Serbia with 21 points, while Atlanta’s Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 17.
STEVE KNOX RETURNS TO PORTLAND ON SEPTEMBER 9.
According to Shams Charania, Kevin Knox, 24, will sign a one-year contract to rejoin the Portland Trail Blazers, continuing his quest to rewrite the history of his NBA career.
Despite being selected by the Knicks with the ninth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Knox has not been able to live up to the anticipation that surrounded him after leaving Kentucky. He has played for four different teams since his New York career ended in a January 2022 trade to Atlanta. After being traded by Detroit in February, Knox was sent to the Pacific Northwest to play for the Trail Blazers. In 21 games, he averaged 8.5 points and 3.3 rebounds, which would have been his best season-long performance since the 2018–19 Knicks rookie campaign.
KNICKS SIGN CHARLIE BROWN JR. SEPTEMBER 8.
A well-known player is joining the New York Knicks’ G League squad.
Charlie Brown Jr. is set to sign with the Knicks on an Exhibit 10 contract, according to Peter Botte of the New York Post. Brown, 26, last participated in an NBA game for the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2021–2022 season. He has played in 41 games overall. After playing for the Knicks in Summer League, he impressed enough to be invited to training camp. His 19.8 points and 6.3 rebounds tied him for second place among the Vegas players.
The team benched Obadiah Noel in retaliation.
October 8 JOKUBAITIS, LITHUANIA WILL GO FOR THE FIFTH PLACE IN THE WORLD CUP
In Lithuania’s penultimate 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup game, Rokas Jokubaitis recorded eight points and four assists each on his way to a 100-84 classification win over Slovenia.
The Lithuanians (6-1) and Jokubaitis, a New York prospect acquired by the team in a draft night trade in 2021, will now square off against Latvia on Saturday (8:30 a.m. ET, ESPN+) for fifth place.
The Dallas star Luka Doncic scored 29 points to lead the losing Slovenian team.
FIBA World Cup Semifinals on September 7
Both of the FIBA Basketball World Cup semifinals, which take place in Manila on Friday, feature a strong New York Knicks team.
RJ Barrett and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will lead Canada against Serbia in the opening match, which airs on ESPN+ at 4:45 a.m. ET. In the second match, which airs on ESPN2, at 8:40 a.m., Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and the United States take on Franz Wagner, Dennis Schroder, and Germany, who are unbeaten.
JOKUBAITIS DISHES 9 IN LITHUANIA LOSS SEPTEMBER 5
Tuesday’s 87-68 victory by Serbia in the first round of the quarterfinals in Manila prevented Lithuania from moving on from the FIBA Basketball World Cup, despite a strong performance by Knicks prospect Rokas Jokubaitis.
Jokubaitis finished the tournament on a positive note despite the loss; he scored 13 points and dished out a game-high nine assists. Draft night arrival averages 12.8 points and 6.2 assists to wrap up Lithuania’s six-game Asian run at 5-1. The team was aiming for its first World Cup medal since 2010.
Schedule for the September 3 World Cup quarterfinal matches is set.
There will be plenty of Knicks representation in the FIBA Basketball World Cup quarterfinals in Manila: current players RJ Barrett, Jalen Brunson, and Josh Hart will represent North America, and 2021 draft pick Rokas Jokubaitis will represent Lithuania.
Tuesday’s quarterfinal doubleheader between Jokubaitis, Brunson, and Hart will be their first action since their thrilling matchup on Sunday. The Americans play Italy in their own match at 8:40 a.m. ET on ESPN2, while Lithuania plays Serbia in the opening game (4:45 a.m. ET, ESPN+). In the event that they win, Barrett and the Canadiens’ quarterfinal matchup against Slovenia (8:40 a.m. ET, ESPN+) will take place after the Americans face the victor of Wednesday’s Germany-Latvia game (4:45 a.m. ET, ESPN+).
The knockout round games will all take place in Manila.
SEPTEMBER 2: FRANCE WINNS THE WORLD CUP FINALE IN QUIETTY In France’s 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup final match against Ivory Coast, Evan Fournier had a quiet game. He finished with two points in 17 minutes and missed all four of his field goal attempts. Fournier did grab six rebounds during the winning 87-77 game.
Thus concludes Fournier’s and the French team’s disappointing performance in Jakarta; they finished 18th in the final World Cup standings. Fournier averaged 21.7 points in the preliminary stages, so his minutes were cut during the consolation rounds. France entered this year’s tournament as the two-time defending third-place posters, and their 18th-place finish is their lowest in nine World Cup appearances.
France, however, is guaranteed a place as the host country for the Summer Olympics in 2024. Isaia Cordinier led the French in scoring on Saturday, scoring 19 points on 6 of 8 shots to thwart a final-ditch attempt at an upset.
SEPTEMBER 2 CANADA ON BRINK OF ELIMINATION
On Sunday, at 9:30 a.m. ET on ESPN+, Canada and New York Knicks forward RJ Barrett will play for their FIBA World Cup lives against Spain in the second round of the tournament.
Canada is tied with Spain and Latvia for first place in Group L following their shock defeat to Brazil on Friday. The two Sunday game winners will advance to the quarterfinals.
Spain’s tournament journey has been uncannily similar to Canada’s; the team won its first three games with little effort before suffering an upset loss to Latvia on Friday. There is now only one spot left for the two group favorites in the upcoming round.
TO BE CONTINUED………
