Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Cities prepared for first actual ‘take a look at’ as Knicks teammates

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Karl-Anthony Cities’ debut will probably be Sunday. 

Tom Thibodeau mentioned he plans on enjoying the starters collectively within the preseason opener at Charlotte, together with newcomer Cities — offering Knicks followers with their first glimpse at one of many league’s prime level guard-center tandems with Jalen Brunson. 

“I’m able to see the place we’re,” Brunson mentioned. “On daily basis is a take a look at, and we get to see the place we’re and transfer on from there.” 

Thibodeau cautioned that he first must seek the advice of with the medical employees and Sunday’s rotation isn’t “finalized.”

However Cities has been a full participant in coaching camp regardless of his late arrival and is raring to go well with up in Charlotte, in line with Thibodeau. 

“I believe he desires to play and he’s been going full tilt to date so we’ll see the place he’s after [Saturday’s practice],” the coach mentioned. 

Requested if Cities, who underwent knee surgical procedure in March, is concerned by an harm that will necessitate the session with the medical employees, Thibodeau mentioned conversations about well being is commonplace with all his gamers throughout coaching camp.

He added that the rotations gained’t resemble the common season’s till the preseason finale Oct. 18 in opposition to the Wizards. 

“Now, we begin incorporating the video games,” Thibodeau mentioned. “After which every recreation, you’ll enhance to construct up till the final recreation which is absolutely the sport the place you need your rhythm and rotation. You in all probability gained’t be precisely at your minutes and rotation however you’ll be near it by the final recreation.” 

Cities missed three coaching camp periods whereas awaiting the finalization of the commerce from the Timberwolves, a deal that was held up as a result of one of many vital salary-matching items, Duane Washington Jr., additionally wanted to barter a buyout with a European group. 

Cities mentioned Saturday that he was unfazed by the missed practices due to his built-in conditioning. 

“I practice tremendously exhausting within the offseason, so I’m prepared for no matter this season has in retailer for me,” he mentioned. “Missed a pair days of coaching camp. It was the work I put within the offseason that paid dividends, particularly early on.” 

Thibodeau hinted that returning forwards Josh Hart and OG Anunoby are projected starters. Newcomer Mikal Bridges will occupy the opposite spot. 

“It’s new for KAT, but it surely’s new for lots of different gamers as properly,” Brunson mentioned. “We’ve obtained to get everybody up to the mark. It’s a brand new group, totally different items, so we now have to verify we focus.” 

The potential for a Brunson-Cities pick-and-roll is probably the most tantalizing side of the new-look Knicks.

Together with Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid-Tyrese Maxey and Denver’s Nikola Jokic-Jamal Murray, the Knicks are within the working for the highest duo at their paired positions. 

It ought to begin Sunday, however Brunson warned of a studying curve. 

“I simply really feel prefer it’s gonna be a studying course of,” Brunson mentioned. “On daily basis is gonna be a problem for us to get higher. It’s not gonna be good from Day 1, however as lengthy we now have the precise mindset, we’re gonna proceed to get higher.”