Luca Vildoza

Knicks guard Luca Vildoza helps Argentina march to Olympics quarterfinals

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The New York Knicks have to wait a little longer for Luca Vildoza after Argentina punched a ticket to the knockout round of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Vildoza scored all of his seven points in the opening half, where Argentina established control en route to a 97-77 victory over host Japan Sunday (early Monday US time).

The Japanese were able to cut the deficit to four in the early moments of the third quarter. But the Argentines answered with an 11-2 run for a 57-44 advantage, and they were never seriously threatened the rest of the way.

Luis Scola led four Argentines in double figures with 23 points.

Vildoza added four assists, two rebounds, and a steal in 26 minutes off the bench. He was 2 for 3 in the first half but missed his next three shots in the final two quarters, all from behind the arc.

Vildoza averaged 7.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals but only shot 35 percent from the field, and he’s only hit 2 of his total 12 three-point attempts in 3 games in the group stage.

Argentina claimed one of the quarterfinals berths in the Olympics as the best third-placed team despite its 1-2 record. They had the best plus/minus (-6) among the three third placers in the group stage. Germany and the Czech Republic also finished with identical 1-2 records in their respective groups. But Germany had a superior plus/minus (-16) over Czech Republic (-49) to complete the quarterfinal cast.

France, Team USA, Slovenia, Spain, Australia, and Italy have earlier claimed their quarterfinal tickets as the top two teams in their respective groups.

The quarterfinals will be played on Tuesday, with the matchups to be drawn on Monday.

If Argentina wins on Tuesday, Vildoza will have to extend his stay in Tokyo until Saturday. The Knicks will open their NBA Summer League campaign on Sunday in Las Vegas.

If Argentina bows out in the quarterfinals, Vildoza can fly back to the US on Wednesday to rejoin the Knicks Summer League squad bannered by Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin, and their NBA Draft picks Quentin Grimes, Miles McBride, and Jericho Sims.

Vildoza signed a partially guaranteed four-year, $13.6 million deal last May and will have to impress the Knicks for a guaranteed spot next season.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Knicks: Luca Vildoza likely to play in Summer League as Argentina nears elimination

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As Argentina’s Olympic medal hopes fade, the chances of Luca Vildoza getting summer reps with the New York Knicks are increasing.

Argentina dropped its second straight game — an 81-71 loss to Spain on Thursday in a rematch of the 2019 FIBA  World Cup Finals.

The loss put the Argentines in a precarious situation. They have to win big against host Japan in their final group stage game and hope they end up with one of the top two third-place records.

Vildoza didn’t start against Spain but played the bulk of his minutes in the second half.

The 25-year old Vildoza finished with five points in 16 minutes as Denver Nuggets’ point guard Facundo Campazzo’s backup. He struggled from the field (2 of 6), missing five of his six three-point attempts. But he added two rebounds and two assists, including a nice pick and roll action with the ageless Luis Scola that ended with an open three-pointer cutting Spain’s lead to a single-digit.

Vildoza had 11 points, five assists, three rebounds, and three steals in Argentina’s opening loss to Slovenia. In two Olympic games thus far, he averages 8.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals. But he’s only shooting 35.7 percent from the field and, worse, only hit 1 of 8 three-pointers so far.

Argentina plays Japan on Sunday, and a loss would automatically eliminate them from contention, giving Vildoza a whole week before making his debut with the Knicks in the NBA Summer League. The Knicks will open their Summer League campaign against the Toronto Raptors on Aug. 8 (See the full Knicks schedule here).

The Knicks will use the Summer League games and the training camp to evaluate Vildoza’s play and fit with their roster before they guarantee his salary next season. Vildoza signed a partially guaranteed four-year, $13.6 million deal last May.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

 

Knicks open NBA Summer League against Raptors

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The New York Knicks will showcase their young core in the 16th MGM Resorts NBA Summer League set to tip-off on August 8 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The NBA announced Wednesday that all of the 75 NBA Summer League games would air live on television on ESPN networks or NBA TV. Every game will also be available to stream on the ESPN App.

Barring any trades, the Knicks’ Summer League core will feature Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin, Kevin Knox, and newly-signed guard Luca Vildoza from Argentina and their draft picks. RJ Barrett could join them unless the Knicks hold him back to avoid injury. Former Kentucky big man Reid Travis, who went undrafted in 2019, will join the squad. Other free agents trying out for training camp spots will round up the team.

It will be the first NBA Summer League for Quickley and Toppin, as the league didn’t hold one last year due to the pandemic.

There is a big chance Vildoza can make it back to Las Vegas in time for the opening tip against the Toronto Raptors on August 8, as Argentina is in limbo in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Argentina lost its Olympics opener to Luka Doncic and Slovenia, 1118-110, where Vildoza scattered 11 points on 3-of-8 field goals, five assists, three rebounds, and three steals in 23 minutes of play.

As it stands, Argentina must win its next two games against Spain and host Japan to advance to the quarterfinals. If the Argentinians split their remaining two games, they have to end up as the top two third-place finishers among all groups. The quarterfinals will be played on August 3, followed by the semifinals two days later and medal matches on August 7.

Here’s the Knicks’ NBA Summer League broadcast schedule (all in Eastern Time):

Aug. 8 vs. Raptors 4:30 pm ESPN2

Aug. 11 vs. Lakers 10 pm ESPN2

Aug. 13 vs. Pistons 8 pm NBA TV

Aug. 14 vs. Cavs 8 pm NBA TV

Should the Knicks advance, they will play at least an additional game in the knockout-style playoffs on August 16. The NBA Summer League Finals will be played on August 17.

Fans who want to watch the games live can purchase tickets by visiting NBAEvents.com.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Knicks News, 7/14: Luca Vildoza opening eyes with 3-point shooting, Reggie Bullock a retention candidate?

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luca vildoza, knicks

If there’s anything to take away from New York Knicks point guard Luca Vildoza’s performance with the Argentinian National Team, it is his stellar three-point shooting (8-of-19 over three games). While Argentina lost their third consecutive game during exhibition play in Las Vegas, with their most recent coming against Team USA, Vildoza was one of the only bright spots for his squad.

Having lost by 28 points, Luca understands that he must pick up the intensity, but he had the opportunity to guard some of the best players in basketball, including Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal, Zack LaVine, and Darius Garland.

Gaining essential experience against quality players will hopefully provide him a bit of momentum as he prepares to take on the NBA over a full season next year. Vildoza is excited to join New York on a four-year contract, and with Elfrid Payton and Derrick Rose hitting free agency, the 25-year-old is currently one of the only point guards on the active roster.

“I’m really happy to be part of the historic team,’’ Vildoza to The Post about signing with the Knicks prior to the end of the 2020-21 season. “I’ve been saying this for the last two months. For me, it’s a dream since I was a child, I was dreaming of this day. When I got there, coach was there. I’ve been talking to him — one of the best coaches in the league. It’s so special. This is my chance to get here and get through to my dream.’’

Hopefully, Thibodeau will have a positive impact on Luca as he transitions to the NBA. Based on what we saw last season and the elevation of multiple players, we can imagine how his game will improve and progress at the next level. He undoubtedly has the right coaching staff and personnel around him to spur growth.

“I’ve [been] doing this last two, three years in Europe and I know I can do it here,” said Vildoza. “Today was a test for me against the best players in the world. I felt really good against them, but we lost by 30, and I got to get better. I got work to do.’’

So the Knicks consider retaining Reggie Bullock?

One player New York could look to bring back is small forward Reggie Bullock, who is an unrestricted free agent this off-season. Having signed a two-year, $8.2 million deal in 2019, Bullock served an efficient purpose, averaging 10.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and connected on 41% of his three-point attempts over 6.1 shots per game. Overall, he had a positive impact on the roster last season, so bringing him back could be a productive move, considering his price tag and the fact he averaged 30 minutes per game.

Aside from Bullock‘s obvious qualities on offense, he was a solid defender for the Knicks and has the versatility to play shooting guard as well. At 30 years old, he might earn a tad more based on his season last year, which included career-high minutes per game, but it shouldn’t be anything worth ignoring his value over.

What do you think about the idea of retaining Bullock? Comment below!

WATCH: How Knicks guard Luca Vildoza fared against Team USA

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There was so much anticipation among the New York Knicks fan base.

Newly-signed guard Luca Vildoza arrived in the U.S. with much fanfare but will exit with a mixed bag of performance, including a sporadic electric game against Team USA.

Argentina got pummelled, 108-80, in their final pre-Olympics tuneup game Tuesday in Las Vegas, but the Knicks fans couldn’t care less about the final score.

All eyes were on Vildoza on how he measures up against elite NBA competition.

Vildoza came off the bench to spread nine points, all coming from beyond the arc, and he added three boards, two assists, one steal, and a block in his most complete performance in three exhibition games.

But there were moments when he looked overwhelmed.

Bam Adebayo blocked his shot. Draymond Green picked up his pocket. Kevin Durant shot over him.

But there were moments too when he looked he truly belonged, especially when he danced around Darius Garland before hitting a tough, in-your-face three-pointer.

Vildoza shot 3-of-8 from the field in 23 minutes. In three games, he shot 9-of-24 or just 37.5 percent from the field. Almost exclusively, his made baskets came behind the shorter FIBA three-point distance. He shot much better from that zone with a 42-percent (8-19) clip.

Overall, the Argentine combo guard averaged 9.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists in 20 minutes with a 37.5/42/100 shooting split.

“I got to get better,’’ Vildoza told The New York Post during the postgame press conference. “I’m shooting too much 3’s without a reason, without thinking too much. I know I can get better on defense especially.”

Vildoza signed a partially guaranteed four-year, $13.6 million deal with the Knicks after averaging 10.1 points, 3.5 assists with Baskonia in the Euroleague last season while hitting 38 percent from long-distance.

“I’ve [been] doing this last two, three years in Europe and I know I can do it here,” said Vildoza. “Today was a test for me against the best players in the world. I felt really good against them, but we lost by 30, and I got to get better. I got work to do.’’

Vildoza and the world’s no. 4 Argentina have their work cut out for them. Except for the close call against Australia, they looked overmatched against Nigeria and Team USA.

“We played bad, we weren’t prepared for this game. They were switching everything. We are a pick and roll team and they defended that. It’s tough but we got time,” Vildoza said.

They better hurry.

If they can’t pull their acts together, their chances are slim to play in the medal round. That will be bad news for Argentina. But good news to the Knicks as Vildoza can fly back to Las Vegas earlier to play in the NBA Summer League.

Argentina is grouped with host Japan led by NBA players Rui Hachimura and Yuta Watanabe, Luka Doncic’s Slovenia, and world’s no. 2 Spain. Vildoza and the Argentinians need to finish in the top two in their group to advance outright to the quarterfinals, or else, they hope they end up as one of the two best third-placers among the three groups to survive.

The quarterfinals will be played on August 3, while the semifinals and the gold medal match will take place on August 5 and 7. Meanwhile, the NBA Summer League will tip-off on August 8 in Las Vegas.

The Knicks are evaluating his performance this summer to guarantee his contract next season. Before he flew to Las Vegas for Argentina’s Olympic buildup, he spent time with the Knicks developmental coaching staff and met New York coach Tom Thibodeau.

“I’m really happy to be part of the historic team,’’ Vildoza said of the Knicks, who broke an eight-year playoff drought this season. “I’ve been saying this for the last two months. For me, it’s a dream since I was a child. I was dreaming of this day. When I got there, coach [Thibodeau] was there. I’ve been talking to him — one of the best coaches in the league. It’s so special. This is my chance to get here and get through to my dream.’’

An Olympic medal and a slot in the Knicks roster next season is his ultimate goal this summer. But there’s more work to do to get there.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @laderalmo

Knicks Offseason Mock 2.0: 3-step plan to solving the point guard position

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New York Knicks, NYK

The New York Knicks saw everything they needed last season after they acquired Derrick Rose from the Detroit Pistons at the trade deadline. At 32 years old, Rose is still capable of running an offense with solid court vision and scoring prowess. While his athleticism has taken a turn for the worse as injuries and father time have taken hold, Rose still averaged 15 points, 4.2 assists, and shot 49% from the field this past season with New York.

One of the most surprising factors that Rose brought to the table was 41% shooting from downtown over 2.6 attempts per game. While he doesn’t offer effective volume shooting, he was one of the only reasons the Knicks reached the postseason, let alone snagging the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference.

With the organization projected to have $50+ million available in funds, they have the money to retain Rose and add a few complementary pieces, further bolstering the roster through the draft.

Solving the point guard position for the Knicks:

Step 1: Retain Derrick Rose

As stated above, relying on Rose is something the Knicks can feel content with based on his performance in 2020. He isn’t going to produce 20+ points per game, and if he hovers around 25 minutes on average per night, they can mitigate fatigue and save him for the playoffs when they’ll need him to turn it up a notch.

The question is, who can management rely on to supplement Derrick and give him the slack he requires to play at a quality level over the course of an entire season?

Step 2: Draft a young point guard

Depending on the route management wants to go, they have a few options they can tailor to their style. If they want a more defensive player, Davion Mitchell out of Baylor would be a perfect choice but would likely require the Knicks to package their first-round picks together to move up. Alternatively, scoring point guards like Tre Mann or Sharife Cooper could be more appropriate.

Rose offers far more offensively than defensively, so Mitchell could be an ideal choice given his potential on offense but elite defense right out of the gate.

Step 3: Utilize Luca Vildoza as a two-way guard

Of course, I would be remiss not to mention the four-year contract Argentinian native Luca Vildoza signed with the Knicks prior to the postseason this past year.

Vildoza is currently in Las Vegas training for the Tokyo Summer Olympics, and he could be the perfect two-way guard to complement RJ Barrett and Julius Randle. The Knicks don’t necessarily need him to be a ball-dominant PG, but he can travel into space and utilize his court vision to facilitate while also playing off Rose and Co.

With smooth shooting mechanics and basketball intelligence, Vildoza can likely fill a shooting guard role as well as earn minutes as the starting PG. Expecting him to be a focal point in his first season of NBA action might be a bit optimistic, so giving him a bit of cushion to adapt is a more efficient strategy.

Overall, this approach gives the Knicks a veteran with experience in Rose, young prospects to develop in Mitchell/Mann/Cooper, and a foreign player to adapt as the season progresses. You can never have enough depth at point guard, and this idea gives the Knicks potential with the inclusion of immediate impact.

WATCH: Knicks’ Luca Vildoza scores 8 pts in Argentina’s 23-pt loss to Nigeria

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New York Knicks‘ guard Luca Vildoza started for the second straight game for Argentina but hardly made an impact in a 94-71 loss to surging Nigeria in an exhibition game in Las Vegas, Nevada.

For the second straight game, Vildoza hit just 3-of-9 from the floor for eight points. He had 11 in a similar 3-of-9 shooting in Argentina’s 87-84 loss on Saturday.

Against Nigeria, Vildoza had his moments, especially in the third quarter. But the Nigerians, buoyed up by their historic upset win against Team USA over the weekend, were in total control since a big 13-2 run in the second quarter.

Vildoza, who trained with the Knicks’ developmental coaching staff for one month before joining Argentina’s pre-Olympic buildup, added two rebounds in 18 minutes. He also hit two of his five three-point attempts in 18 minutes of action.

In his first two games with Argentina since signing with the Knicks, Vildoza is averaging 9.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 18.5 minutes of play. He’s shooting 33.3 percent from the floor and 38.5 percent from deep.

Argentina will next play Team USA Tuesday at 6 p.m. E.T.

The Knicks signed Vildoza to a partially guaranteed four-year, $13.6 million deal before the NBA playoffs started. But he didn’t suit up as New York coach Tom Thibodeau referred to him as a “summer thing.”

The Knicks are closely monitoring Vildoza’s play with Argentina as part of their evaluation before picking up his $3.3 million option next season.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

WATCH: Knicks’ Luca Vildoza hits half-court shot on buzzer-beater against Australia

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When the New York Knicks signed Argentinian point guard Luca Vildoza to a four-year contract, they envisioned he would be a focal point for the offense in the future. With Derrick Rose and Elfrid Payton preparing to hit the open market, Vildoza remains one of the only true PGs on the roster, but the expectation is that management will bring in another established player if not retain Rose this off-season.

However, Vildoza is playing with the Argentinian national team as they prepare for the Tokyo Summer Olympics in Las Vegas. In an exhibition game against Australia, Vildoza connected, and a half-court shot as the first half buzzer sounded, giving his team a 47-42 lead.

Showcasing yet another impressive attribute, clutch shooting, Vildoza is already making waves as the Knicks gauge his talents ahead of the 2021-22 season.

Vildoza finished the contest with 11 points, hitting on 37.5% of his shots from range and 33% from the field. Australia ended up winning the game on a buzzer-beater by Patty Mills, but Vildoza played sufficiently over 18 minutes.

At 25 years old, Luca has drawn glowing reviews from players like Pablo Prigioni, who coined him as a better player than he was when he first entered the league. Luca simply lacks experience at the NBA level. With a fluid shooting motion and quality court vision, he can hopefully be an impact player moving forward for the Knicks.

WATCH: Knicks’ Luca Vildoza shows off ball handling and pin-point passing

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One of the most intriguing unknowns as the Knicks head into the off-season is foreign point guard Luca Vildoza. The Knicks signed Vildoza to a four-year, $13.6 million deal, and they are expecting a shifty and creative point guard in return.

The 25-year-old Argentinian native is preparing to face off against the USA National Team at the Olympics this year, and they will get a good look at what he can offer the organization during the 2021-22 season.

Vildoza posted an intriguing video on Thursday, showcasing his handles and pinpoint passing accuracy, shooting a laser down low to the paint.

The question is, can Luca play a prominent part in the Knicks’ future?

During his most recent season in Spain with Baskonia, he averaged 10.9 points and 3.7 assists across 23.5 minutes per game. The 6’3″, 190-pound PG is a solid pick-and-roll player who loves to have the ball in his hands, always looking to facilitate. Last year, the Knicks ranked in the 41st percentile on pick-and-roll plays, so it is clear they want to improve in that category with an adequate point guard.

Now there is the possibility that the team brings back Derrick Rose, alternatively, they could look to Vildoza to back up a prominent free agent signing like Chris Paul or a blockbuster trade for Damian Lillard.

However, the team is still trying to figure out how Luca will make an impact next season, and his performance during the Summer League and Olympics should give them a solid idea of what he brings to the table against higher competition. As a smooth shooter with solid athleticism, his most difficult task will be adjusting to the NBA game and the physicality that accompanies it.

Knicks: Luca Vildoza to be tested vs Team USA in Las Vegas camp

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The New York Knicks will have their first look at Luca Vildoza against NBA competition since his signing when Argentina plays Team USA in Las Vegas in an exhibition match next month.

Vildoza will join Denver Nuggets’ rookie guard Facundo Campazzo in Argentina’s backcourt. The Knicks will have the chance to see him go up against a star-laden Team USA’s backcourt led by Portland’s superstar Damian Lillard. Joining Lillard in Team USA’s backcourt are Devin Booker (Phoenix), Bradley Beal (Washington), Zach LaVine (Chicago), and Jrue Holiday (Milwaukee).

Fourth-ranked Argentina is scheduled to play the world’s no.1 Team USA on July 13 (3 pm PDT) at MGM’s Michelob Ultra Arena. Tickets to the game are selling for as low as $62 to as high as $120. You can buy your ticket here.

The exhibition match is part of Argentina’s three-week training camp before flying to Tokyo. The national teams of Nigeria, Australia, and Spain will also see action in the five-day event in Las Vegas.

Vildoza will leave New York on Sunday to join Argentina’s national team, according to his camp. The 25-yeard old Argentinian guard had been working out with the Knicks since his arrival last month. His camp also revealed that three more Knicks players joined him in his final week before leaving for Las Vegas.

Vildoza signed a four-year $13.6 million deal to join the Knicks this season with the next three years non-guaranteed. The Knicks will have the chance to evaluate him further in the Olympics, the Summer League, and the training camp before committing to a full guarantee next season.

Games against Australia (July 10, 8:30 pm PDT) and Nigeria (July 12, 1:30 pm PDT) will serve as Vildoza’s warmup before the much-awaited showdown against Team USA.

Australia also features a backcourt of NBA veteran Patty Mills (San Antonio) and Matthew Dellavedova (Cleveland). Nigeria, coached by Mike Brown, is no slouch either, with several NBA players in their lineup that includes Campazzo’s teammate Monte Morris, OG Anonuby (Toronto), Josh Okogie (Minnesota), Precious Achiuwa (Miami), Al-Farouq Aminu (Chicago), Jahlil Okafor (Detroit), and Jordan Nwora (Milwaukee).

Argentina is bracketed with Spain, Japan, and the winner of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Kaunas, Lithuania, where Dallas’ young star Luka Doncic will attempt to lead Slovenia to their first-ever Olympics appearance.

In the event Argentina will play for the gold medal, Vildoza will have a tight turnaround time between the Olympics and the NBA Summer League.

The Olympics gold medal match will be played on Aug. 6, while the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas is penciled to start on Aug. 8.

Two more other Knicks players — RJ Barrett (Canada) and restricted free agent Frank Ntilikina (France) — will also see action in the Olympics.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo