ORLANDO — Not all rookie alternatives are created equal. The younger gamers on the Knicks know this in addition to anybody. The lottery picks with star labels are inclined to get the minutes, the errors, the leeway.
The second-rounders, the late picks, the perimeter rotation guys on win-now groups? They’ll fade into the background. They’ll reside within the G-League. They’ll spend months making ready for an opportunity that by no means comes.
After which there are the rookies who by no means count on to see the court docket this early, by no means count on to be relied upon in actual minutes, however put together anyway — quietly, obsessively, behind the scenes — in case the top coach lastly appears to be like down the bench and says their title.
Mike Brown is saying “Mo,” and out of the blue, the Knicks want Mohamed Diawara greater than they deliberate. The 20-year-old French rookie has waited patiently. Now his alternative is right here — not in idea, not in rubbish time, however in a second that issues.
His time arrived in probably the most chaotic sequence possible. OG Anunoby was already out with a hamstring pressure. Miles McBride was out sick. And three minutes into the Knicks’ eventual loss to the Magic on Saturday, Landry Shamet appeared to re-dislocate the identical shoulder he injured within the preseason, sprinting off the court docket in seen ache after absorbing the complete pressure of an unlawful Wendell Carter Jr. display screen.
Straight away, the veteran depth behind New York’s stars disappeared. What appeared like a slow-burn improvement season for Diawara grew to become a live-fire project.
And in Brown’s system, Diawara possesses one thing the Knicks don’t have a lot of with out Anunoby and Shamet: actual two-way size. At 6-9 with a 7-4 wingspan and a 9-2 standing attain, he’s one of many few gamers on the roster who can credibly guard three or 4 positions and nonetheless contest pictures on the rim.
“For a young guy, he’s got a good feel. On both ends of the floor. He’s long. He’s a pretty good athlete,” Brown mentioned pregame. “And there are a lot of things that he does well, not necessarily great. But just pretty good all-around basketball player. And after he gets some time under his belt, and he turns that feel into live game action, the sky’s the limit how good he could be.”
There have been rookie moments, in fact. Diawara missed all three of his three-point makes an attempt — every one rushed, every one betraying the adrenaline of a 51st-overall decide out of the blue requested to contribute on a crew with postseason expectations. He additionally turned the ball over thrice, together with as soon as instantly following a formidable steal from Magic star Desmond Bane.
However the defensive flashes have been actual. Diawara moved, lined floor and contested each on the rim and on leap shooters. That form of defensive really feel can purchase him the time he wants for the leap shot to catch up.
“Just coming out there making an impact on defense,” Mikal Bridges mentioned after the sport. “The shots will fall. It’ll come. I think he’s sped up a little bit. But he’s a young guy, a rookie that’s coming to play on a pretty good team, so it’s gonna take time with that, but I think he’s been doing good.”
Diawara understands the project. In Brown’s pace-and-space offense, capturing isn’t elective — particularly for wings. And if he desires extra minutes, he is aware of precisely the place the work must be performed.
The rookie is surrounded by teammates who know his path. Cities was the No. 1 decide who walked into duty. Brunson was a second-rounder who earned belief the onerous approach. McBride’s alternative got here with Immanuel Quickley’s commerce to Toronto. And Mitchell Robinson was one other uncooked second-rounder whose items demanded enjoying time.
Diawara has the identical likelihood, even when the circumstances are far totally different. He is aware of he’s on a contending crew. He is aware of the leash is shorter. He is aware of each minute issues.
His teammates see the preparation. They see the stability. They see the stress, too.
“He’s done a great job coming in and trying to impact winning. So shoutout to Mo,” Cities mentioned. “It’s tough when you’re first time in the NBA, and you’re a rookie, and you’re a rookie on the New York Knicks, obviously. So it’s tough. A lot of pressure, and I think he’s done a great job of going in there and trying to do his best to help us win.”
So does his coach. Brown is aware of reps are the one true path to get his rookie in control. The reps can be found now for a crew shorthanded on the wings.
“I just got to find ways to get him on the floor. And if I can’t do it here, I got to get him down to the G-League so he can play,” Brown mentioned. “A guy like Mo just needs to play.”
