Quentin Grimes utilizing Group USA camp as springboard to breakout

LAS VEGAS — Since he broke into the NBA two seasons in the past, Quentin Grimes has developed in a most uncommon trend: linear.

As a rookie, Grimes earned a spot on the Knicks’ roster, then labored himself into the rotation.

In his second season, he earned a beginning function and performed practically half-hour an evening on a playoff staff. What subsequent? “I believe simply making an enormous leap,” Grimes mentioned following Group USA’s follow on Friday at UNLV.

“My offensive recreation and my defensive recreation. Simply being an all-around participant, taking it to the subsequent degree.

“My shot, being much more constant, driving the ball, making performs for myself and my teammates. And defensively, simply taking that problem of guarding one of the best participant each night time. I believe simply proudly owning that and taking it upon myself to be extra decided, actually.”

The final half, specifically, could be music to Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau’s ears.

Grimes is getting a head begin on guarding a few of the NBA’s greatest this week as a part of the USA Choose Group, whose function is to follow and scrimmage in opposition to the staff that may journey to the Philippines later this month to start play within the World Cup. Grimes additionally could possibly be referred to as up within the occasion of damage.

“It’s an ideal alternative anytime you get an opportunity to place USA throughout your chest simply to go on the market and compete,” Grimes mentioned. “The senior staff goes on the market and get them prepared with FIBA arising.”

After the Knicks added Donte DiVincenzo as their solely main signing of the offseason, Grimes could possibly be requested to show himself once more at coaching camp.

He and DiVincenzo each primarily play on the wing, and although Grimes began 66 video games final season, there isn’t any assure he’ll retain that function this time round.

Even when he does, DiVincenzo figures to chop into his minutes. Grimes sounded much more excited concerning the addition of DiVincenzo than anxious about his taking part in time when the query was put to him Friday.

“It’s good so as to add one other shooter on the court docket, much more spacing for certain,” he mentioned. “It’ll open up different performs for us to go on the market and simply make performs. Having any individual who can shoot the ball and house the ground can open up a number of issues for lots of us on the staff.”

So there isn’t any concern?

“Nah,” he mentioned. “I believe every little thing you do is competitors. You wanna have one of the best gamers on the market on daily basis to make us higher. Competing in opposition to him, Josh [Hart], Jalen [Brunson], [Immanuel Quickley] is gonna make everyone higher, actually.”