Luka Samanic

Could Knicks call up former 1st round pick from G-League to bring new energy?

by
luka samanic, knicks

The New York Knicks need some new blood in their rotation coming off three consecutive losses to Brooklyn, Chicago, and Denver. In their most recent defeat to the Nuggets over the weekend, they were utterly embarrassed at home in front of their fans.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau indicated that his squad lacked energy, which has been a frequent occurrence this season among a myriad of struggles. Ranging from porous defense to inefficient shooting, the Knicks are looking for a new identity after displaying aggression and intensity during a hopeful 2020–21 season.

Fast forward to present-day, and Thibodeau was just looking for answers with the team looking to get back in the win column against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night. The Spurs are struggling considerably this year, but after laying an egg against Denver, who had lost seven of their previous eight games, there’s no guarantee the Knicks can beat anybody at this point.

Thibs indicated that he may change their scheme and rotation again after dropping Kemba Walker last week in favor of Alec Burks as the starting point guard.

HOT NEWS:

–Mike Malone reminds Tom Thibodeau of what he’s been missing

–2 ways the Knicks can solve their massive chemistry issues

One lowkey change that Thibodeau can make is bringing up Luka Samanic, a former first-round pick by the San Antonio Spurs. Samanic played in 33 games last season, averaging just 3.7 points per game.

However, he’s not even 22-years-old yet but has been lighting up the G-League with impressive numbers. Over six games, Samanic is averaging 32.8 minutes on the floor, posting 21.8 points on 44% shooting from the field and 30% shooting from deep. His 8.7 defensive rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2.7 offensive rebounds stand out among his well-balanced stat sheet.

The Croatian international deserves an opportunity to help a struggling team find their identity. Samanic has the qualities to be a productive player but simply didn’t earn the opportunity during his time in San Antonio.

Considering New York is preparing to take on his former team, the game represents a perfect chance for him to gain some revenge and showcase what he can do at the professional level. While six games in the G-League doesn’t exactly provide much of a sample size, the Knicks simply need to shake up the rotation and provide some new blood. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Miles McBride get the call, either.

Watch: Knicks rookie Miles McBride notches 1st G League double-double

by
knicks, new york knicks, miles mcbride

New York Knicks rookie Miles McBride keeps on piling up milestones in his NBA G League assignment.

Barely 24 hours after notching his career-high in scoring, McBride recorded his first double-double in the G League Showcase. The 36th pick of this year’s NBA draft followed up his 31-point, 11-assist effort Thursday night with 23 points and 11 assists.

McBride came through in the clutch as the Westchester Knicks repeated over College Park Skyhawks, 121-117, Friday night at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He sealed the Knicks’ second straight win and fourth in 10 games with a three-pointer and two free throws in the final 80 seconds after the Skyhawks threatened at 116-112.

In a dominant performance against Sharife Cooper and the Skyhawks, McBride came two rebounds shy of a triple-double. Cooper led the Skyhawks with 27 points and five assists but had seven turnovers. McBride only had two errors in 39 minutes.

The Knicks rookie out of West Virginia had six assists in the third quarter alone to help the Knicks get a 96-90 cushion. McBride showed his full offensive arsenal, hitting 8 of 15 shots and 3 of 7 from downtown.

Luka Samanic also had a monster double-double with a new career-high 36 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out in the final minute. Samanic, the Knicks’ two-way player, was an unstoppable force making 15 of 26 shots, including a highlight dunk early in the game.

It was Samanic’s fourth double-double in seven games. Brandon Goodwin added 18 points and seven assists.

Westchester Knicks will have more than one week of rest before taking on playoff-bound Delaware Blue Coats (6-1) on Dec. 12 on the road. It is unclear if McBride will see action as the New York Knicks will host defending NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks on the same day.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Deuce on the loose: Knicks rookie Miles McBride explodes vs Skyhawks

by

New York Knicks rookie point guard Miles McBride keeps on getting better with more games in the G League.

In his third G League assignment, McBride recorded a career-high 31 points to lead the Westchester Knicks to a 123-102 rout of the College Park Skyhawks Thursday night at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

The Knicks improved to 3-6 in the G League Showcase after holding the Skyhawks to a season-low 11 points in the opening quarter and never looked back.

McBride shot 12 of 20 from the field and hit 5 of 10 from downtown for his scoring rampage. He added nine assists, five rebounds, and one steal in 36 minutes. McBride’s scoring performance has jumped from 25 to 29, and 31 points in his first three G League games. He is averaging 28.0 points and 7.7 assists, along with 5.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals, while shooting 48 percent from the field and 41 percent from downtown on a staggering 9.7 attempts.

Luka Samanic, Knicks’ two-way player, had his fifth straight 20-point game. The 6-foot-1 Croatian forward also earned his third double-double of the season with 25 points and 16 rebounds that went with four assists and one steal. Samanic picked apart Skyhawks defense with an efficient 8 of 14 shooting from the field, including 3 for 6 three-pointers.

Samanic is averaging a double-double with 26.8 points and 10.3 rebounds in six games. The 21-year old stretch four is shooting 54.6 percent from the field and hitting 44 percent of his 5.7 three-point attempts per game.

Two more Knicks players contributed at least 20 points. Aamir Simms also logged in a double-double with 23 points, 10 boards, and two blocks, while Brandon Goodwin chipped in 20 points and four assists.

The still winless Skyhawks drew 19 points each from Atlanta rookies Jalen Johnson and Sharife Cooper.

McBride was recalled and practiced with the Knicks on Friday morning. But he is scheduled to play again in the Westchester-College Park rematch later in the night.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Knicks rookie Miles McBride continues to impress in G League

by
Knicks photo of Miles McBride dunk

New York Knicks rookie point guard Miles McBride had another solid game in his second G League assignment. But it was not enough as the Westchester Knicks fell short against the Maine Celtics, 110-100, Monday night at Webster Bank Arena.

McBride finished with a G League career-high 28 points highlighted by a thunderous in-your-face slam in the second quarter.

“Just really attacked the rim as hard as I can. I missed a couple of shots, so it’s [letting] frustrations [out],” McBride said of his highlight dunk.

McBride’s frustrations did not go away as the Celtics led by as many as 24 points in the second half. The Knicks blew a 12-point lead in the opening quarter to slide to a 2-6 record.

Not even McBride’s complete line could save them.

The 36th pick of this year’s NBA Draft shot 11 of 25 from the field and made 5 of 12 3s. McBride filled the stats sheet with six rebounds, five assists, three steals, and one block against two turnovers in 41 minutes.

Through two G League games, McBride averages 26.5 points on a 43/33/100 shooting split with 5.5 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 2.5 steals.

Knicks two-way player, Luka Samanic, continued his explosive scoring acts with a game-high 29 points and nine rebounds. The 21-year old Croatian forward hit 5 of 10 3s and added three assists in 39 minutes.

Samanic scored Westchester’s first 11 points in the fourth quarter as they cut the lead down to 14, 92-78. Back-to-back three-pointers from Tyler Hall, who had 25 points, and McBride brought them within eight, 92-84. It was the closest they could get as former Knick Theo Pinson answered with a three-pointer to restore Maine’s double-digit lead.

The Celtics improved to an East regional pod-leading 7-1 record.

The Knicks will host the winless College Park Skyhawks (0-5) on Thursday.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

 

Miles McBride dominates in G League debut

by
miles mcbride, knicks

New York Knicks rookie Miles McBride made the most out of the opportunity and showed out in a spectacular G League debut.

After playing only four garbage minutes in two games to start his rookie season, McBride proved he belonged to the NBA by stamping his class in the developmental league.

McBride came one assist shy of a double-double providing the jolt for the Westchester Knicks to pick up their first win of the season — a 104-98 victory over Long Island Nets on Wednesday night.

The Knicks rookie guard out of West Virginia scattered 29 points and a game-high nine assists. He added five rebounds and two steals as Westchester won its home opener in its temporary home, snapping a four-game losing skid.

The Knicks affiliate club played at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut, as the Westchester County Center is currently being used as a COVID-19 vaccination site.

Knicks’ two-way player Luca Samanic was also impressive in his return from a heel injury. The Croatian forward scored 32 points and pulled down 10 rebounds as he and McBride teamed up as Westchester’s 1-2 punch combo.

McBride picked up the pace from the start pouring in nine points and four assists in the opening quarter. His seven-point outburst transformed a one-point deficit into a 25-22 lead, which the Knicks never relinquished.

“I love him, I love him,’’ Thibodeau said of McBride before his Knicks lost to Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden later in the night. “I think it’s important for him to be with us. But every opportunity we get where we can have him play some, we want to try to take advantage of that as well. But he’s got a great future, a great kid, hard worker. And when you come into this league, it’s all about — you’ve got to learn first. And that’s what he’s doing.”

Westchester led by as many as 17 before a spirited Long Island comeback trimmed the deficit to two points at the start of the third quarter.

A Samanic three-pointer off a McBride assist triggered a 10-2 salvo that restored order for the Knicks. McBride punctuated the run with a thunderous dunk as the Knicks grabbed a 72-62 lead with 8:55 left in the third quarter.

“It’s just day-to-day,’’ Thibodeau said. “When we have an opportunity to send him, we’ll send him. I love the proximity of it where it’s right there, and it’s in our building. So I think it’s important for him to be with us in practice and games. But anytime we have a situation where he can do both. Ideally, that’s what we would like to have.

“There will be some [days] where he goes back and forth. I love who he is. He’s a big part of practice every day for us.”

McBride played 41 minutes and only committed three turnovers. He shot 10 of 24 from the field.

Samanic, a waiver pickup after San Antonio Spurs dumped him, played 32 minutes in his return. He added two assists and made 12 of 23 shots.

Aamir Simms backstopped Westchester’s 1-2 punch combo with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Westchester’s next game will be on Nov. 23, a rematch against the Nets at home. It is unclear if McBride will see action again as the Knicks will also host the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden on the same night.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

 

Report: Knicks sign former Spurs first-round pick Luka Samanic to two-way contract

by

The New York Knicks are taking a flier on Luka Samanic after the San Antonio Spurs waived the 21-year old Croatian.

On Friday, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that the Knicks and Samanic have agreed on a two-way contract.

Samanic was the 19th pick of the 2019 NBA Draft after playing two seasons professionally in Europe.

The 6-foot-11 forward averaged 3.8 points and 2.2 rebounds in 9.9 minutes in his two seasons with the Spurs. During his rookie year, he averaged 5.5 points on 37.5 percent shooting from deep in 16 minutes. He added 3.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists as he rounded out the season as one of the Spurs’ intriguing young players.

Samanic scored a career-high 16 points against Utah Jazz during his rookie season. In the Spurs’ 119-93 dismantling of the Knicks last March 2, Samanic came off the bench to fire 14 points and pulled down seven rebounds in 20 minutes. He shot 3-of-5 from the three-point zone.

The Knicks roster is now 20 with 14 guaranteed spots and two-way players in rookie center Jericho Sims and Samanic.

As two-way players, Sims and Samanic can be on the Knicks’ active roster up to 50 games during the regular season.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo