Ariel Hukporti requested two issues of his friend Isaiah Hartenstein: recommendation on taking part in for the Knicks and his Negative. 55 jersey.
Hukporti, the 7-foot heart and second-round select, were given each.
“He’s like, ‘Make sure you bring energy to the table, a lot of defense, rebounding, make sure you keep your game simple, don’t complicate it,’ ” Hukporti mentioned. “Just listen to the coaches whatever they want on defense. Make sure you’re capable of adapting and all that.”
Hukporti and Hartenstein changed into buddies of their local Germany.
There used to be a probability they’d play games in combination in Brandnew York, however Hartenstein affirmative to a three-year, $87 million offer with the Thunder a occasion nearest the draft.
“I thought [we were going to be teammates], but then I saw the money,” Hukporti mentioned.
Hukporti, who scored six issues with 5 rebounds in 17 mins Saturday, mentioned he’ll proceed to solicit recommendation from Hartenstein.
The Knicks, in the meantime, nonetheless have a hollow at alternative heart.
“I just feel like I have to get used to the game a little bit more,” Hukporti mentioned. “Making the right reads, be in the system more. I feel like I could definitely fit in.”
First-round select Pacome Dadiet mentioned his beggarly capturing on Saturday — when he went 2-for-8 with two airballed 3-pointers — used to be a minimum of in part the made from the NBA 3-point sequence being rather additional than in Europe.
“I just have to push on my legs a little more, I guess,” mentioned the 18-year-old Frenchman, who used to be decided on twenty fifth general.
Dadiet’s alternative heavy factor used to be the generation of the sport.
“I felt the difference for sure. It was way faster than Europe,” he mentioned. “It’s just everything. It’s not just conditioning. It’s the way you have to find your position on the court. Everything is just faster. You have to make a decision faster.”
Dadiet performed higher in the second one part nearest the tough get started.
Rokas Jokubaitis had the least preparation occasion for the hole summer time league recreation.
Pace teammates of the 2021 second-round select have been coaching within the Knicks facility, Jokubaitis used to be taking part in in Olympic qualifiers for Lithuania.
The purpose safeguard later logged simply 14 mins with 8 issues in opposition to the Hornets.
“He had summer workouts with us, but just short ones, so he’s learning things on the fly, as he gets more comfortable,” laborer schoolmaster Cube Yoshimoto mentioned. “The game is a little different from FIBA to the NBA. I’m confident he’ll get better.”
