Pour one out, my Knick fans.
I’m sure that at this specific juncture, seeing a former fan favorite go off for the most efficient 40-point game in NBA history feels a little like salt in a wound. But that’s exactly what Immanuel Quickley did last night, and I wanted to talk about it.
Between injuries and inconsistency, it’s fair to say that Quickley has not, and likely will not, live up to the 5-year, $175 million contract the Raptors signed him to in 2024. But that doesn’t mean he can’t be, or isn’t, an impactful player in his own right. It’s all about the context.
Quickley’s game isn’t built to carry an offense, either as a scorer or a passer. He’ll never play like the on-ball point guards that have become en vogue over the last decade. But his skills as a shooter and secondary playmaker are very conducive to playing off of other creators, and he can in turn elevate their impact. In other words, he’s a complementary piece, a force multiplier.
I examine the idiosyncrasies of his game, and what the best version of Quickley looks like, through what is probably its ultimate proof of concept — Quickley’s best game as a Raptor to date. Enjoy!
