Immanuel Quickley can’t look away. It’s January 21, 2021, and the New York Knicks are set to face off against the Golden State Warriors. The then-rookie is standing on the floor of the Chase Center, watching Stephen Curry swish jumpers on the other end of the court. Curry makes another one. And then another one. Quickley stands there, watching in awe as the greatest shooter of all time does what he does best.
Quickley is actually so dialed in that he forgets to do his own warm-up entirely. “I was just watching him shoot the whole time, and he was making every single shot,” the Knicks guard tells us.
It’s been three years since, but this season, it’s Quickley who has had plenty of eyes on him. The Havre de Grace, MD, native emerged as a finalist for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award (finishing second in voting) while averaging career highs in field-goal percentage and points per game as the Knicks headed into the playoffs. As a starter, Quickley stepped up big in the final weeks of the regular season while Jalen Brunson was out with an injury: he had a career-high 38 points against the Celtics on March 5 and a 40-ball against the Rockets at the end of the month.
All that momentum continued when Quickley dropped 39 points and hit 7 threes against the Pacers on April 5. Two days later, his phone suddenly started blowing up with notifications of people tagging him on Instagram—Damian Lillard had just endorsed him for 6MOY.
“Just knowing that [an] NBA superstar is vouching for you is something that’s pretty cool,” Quickly says. He first got connected to Dame during his rookie year through Knicks assistant coach Johnnie Bryant and says the NBA All-Star has given him advice on “working hard and believing in the work.”
While the award ultimately went to the Celtics’ Malcolm Brogdon, the moment is a testament to Quickley’s commitment.
Then there are the words of wisdom he received from Stephen Curry. During what Quickley calls a “tough time where I couldn’t make any shots,” he decided to reach out to Curry and pick his brain. He asked the four-time NBA champ for his opinion on shooting when a player thinks they’re in a slump or not playing well.
He got a reply, and the recording is almost three minutes long. In it, Quickley can hear the sound of a car’s windshield wipers and blinker lights in the background as Curry recorded his message:
“Honestly, shooting is all confidence. Even if you miss some shots, your confidence shouldn’t change because you could miss 50 shots in a row, but if you know you’re still a shooter, you’re still a shooter. That doesn’t change.”
Quickley still has the recording saved on his phone. He says he listens to it all the time.
“He’s the greatest shooter ever, why would I not listen to it as many times as I can?”
In times when shots haven’t been falling like he’d want them to, Quickley has still managed to channel Curry’s advice. After going scoreless in Game 4 in the first round of the playoffs this spring, he dropped 19 points in a series-clinching Game 5 win against the Cavs.
“It’s part of the game, as far as, you know, shots not falling,” Quickley says. “But that’s never a reason to not play hard or not play defense or keep encouraging your teammates and things like that. So that’s something I’ve learned at a young age, and it’s something I’ve kept with me through the NBA.”
Another part of his approach is positive affirmations. Quickley says he’ll say things to himself while on the court, like, The next shot is going in. “I talk to myself like I’m my best friend,” he says.
But more than anything, it’s his faith that plays the most important role in his life. He still does 15 minute Bible studies with his mom whenever he needs and has pastors that he’s known throughout his life who give him words of encouragement throughout the season. He also has a scripture from Romans 8:28 as the screensaver on his phone: We know that all things work together for the good of those that love him and are called according to His purpose.
In discussing the things he’s learned about himself over the last year, Quickly sounds wiser than his years: “I think the biggest thing for me is I’m just much more aware, spiritually, of when I’m not doing enough. Sometimes, we can get caught up throughout our day or throughout working out. We can get busy.”
Before games, Quickley will sometimes listen to a church service. “I think, for me, definitely just seeing the bigger picture [has] helped me to lock in and [to] always remember the reason that I’m playing basketball and who’s giving me the gift that I’m able to share with others.”
He’s hip to legendary gospel singer Kirk Franklin and is an avid listener, comparing his game to Franklin’s music because of it’s upbeat style (“Just good vibes,” he says). He’s had moments this year—like his 38-point performance against the Celtics in double overtime—where he’s found his rhythm on offense and was simply just having fun with it all. That’s really when he’s playing at his best, and he is not the type to hesitate showing it.
“Honestly, when I’m having those big games, it kind of feels like I’m at the park playing with my friends. There was a game against Boston, I made that layup and I was skipping down the floor. Some people think that I’m just, you know, being funny, but I was honestly just having so much fun that game that I just started skipping down the court.
“Before the game even started, I knew I was gonna have fun whether I played good or not,” he adds. “And that kind of just propelled me to have that game because I had that mindset of, you know, just having fun on a nationally televised game. I knew I was gonna have a fun night.”
Since Day 1 of training camp, and even going back to the summer, Quickley says his mindset has always been to “just have a great year.” Despite what happens next or how far the Knicks go in this year’s playoffs, it’s a fact that the Knicks have become one of the most fun teams to watch this season—and Quickley is a major reason why.
“Really, I feel like it’s the joy that I play with [is] where it shows the most—unselfishness, togetherness, unity,” he says” “All of those things kind of embody what it means to me to be playing and the gift that God has given me.”
Portraits by Marcus Stevens.
The post Immanuel Quickley Opens Up On How Faith Has Helped Him Level Up This Season appeared first on SLAM.
Deyscha Smith
https://www.slamonline.com/the-magazine/immanuel-quickley-244/
By: Deyscha Smith
Title: Immanuel Quickley Opens Up On How Faith Has Helped Him Level Up This Season
Sourced From: www.slamonline.com/the-magazine/immanuel-quickley-244/
Published Date: 05-06-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
What does NBA mean when it says waived?
"Waived" in the NBA is an official release of a player from their team's roster. This could be for salary cap reasons, personal reasons, or disciplinary actions. After a player has been waived, they are an unrestricted-free agent who can sign with any league team. The player is not eligible to participate in the playoffs if they were waived after March 1, 2001.
How much does the NBA pay its players?
The NBA's average salary is $7.3million for the 2021-2022 NBA season. This figure is based the maximum salary cap of $134million, which was set in this season. Individual player salaries may vary depending on their achievements and experience.
Superstar players like LeBron James and Kevin Durant can earn up to $40 million a year, while rookies may make as little as the minimum salary of $898,310. Other veteran players may also be eligible, depending upon their years of experience, for mid-level exemption salaries. These can range from $4.76million up to $9.258million. Players may also be eligible for bonuses and other incentives based on their performance or team success.
What is the NBA Draft, exactly?
The NBA Draft takes place every year and allows teams to choose the eligible players who will be joining the league. The NBA Draft is held every June. Each round consists of two rounds. Each team receives one pick. The teams' previous seasons' records determine the order of the draft. The worst team gets the first pick, while the best team gets the last. The draft allows international and college players to be selected by teams. This event is crucial for teams because it allows them to find new talent and expand their rosters. It also offers players the chance to transfer from their college or international leagues to join the NBA.
Who holds the record for most career playoff wins in the NBA?
With LeBron James leading the way, racking up an impressive 174 wins in NBA Playoffs history and 266 games played, it's no wonder he is one of the most sought-after basketball players today.
What is a buyout in the NBA?
A buyout in the NBA is a contractual agreement between a team and a player. In this agreement, the team agrees to pay part or all of the remaining contract amount the player was entitled to receive. Once their buyout is completed, players can become free agents to sign with any other league team. This allows teams to reduce their salaries and change their roster composition throughout the season, if necessary.
Statistics
- Williams would 'likely' accept a deal worth $14-15M/year; Celtics are 'unlikely' to offer such a deal (HoopsHype) (bleacherreport.com)
- "NBA first-round ratings drop 27 percent, 40 percent since 2017–18". (en.wikipedia.org)
- An estimated 800 million viewers watched the [105]2017–18 season. (en.wikipedia.org)
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20% of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
- As of 2014, 45 percent of its viewers were black, while 40 percent were white, making it the only top North American sport that does not have a white majority audience.[102]As of 2017Democrats than Republicans.[103]Outside (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
basketball-reference.com
- Thomas Bryant Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com
- Dennis Schroder Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com
sbnation.com
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How To
How an NBA Getty Images Photographer Captures Perfect Shots
This article shows how an NBA Getty Images professional can capture the perfect shot. Selecting the right spot is the first step. Next, you must choose the best angle from which to shoot your photo. You must also anticipate what may happen next.
- Step1: Selecting the Right Location
Picking the right location and time to take a photograph is key to getting the best results. If you have too many people around you, it is possible to lose the moment in case something happens during exposure. It is important to not have people blocking your view. Try to find a spot in which they will not be able see you taking photographs.
Once you have found a good spot for your camera, begin snapping away. It's easier to get closer than further away from the action.
- Step2: Finding the Best Angle
After you've found the ideal location, consider the angle. This is the most important aspect of capturing a great photo.
Position yourself so that you can see clearly the subject matter and not get in the way of what is happening. If you want to catch a ball player making a layup, try looking through the basket. You'll have a good frame with no obstructions.
Next, look for interesting angles. Find one that reveals something about the athlete. A low angle will help showcase his height, while a high angle will highlight his athleticism.
Frames are the last thing you should think about. Framing describes the arrangement of items relative to one another within a frame. The best composition is one that balances the foreground (what is closest to the lens) and the background (everything else).
- Step 3: Anticipating the Next Event
Also, be prepared to react. Always be on the lookout for unusual situations, such as someone diving into the lanes or a ball rolling towards he rim. You need to be ready to quickly react. Do not hesitate in calling out "action", or "cut."
The scene should be frozen once you have heard these words. Wait for the action to resume, then move on. You can freeze the scene to ensure sharp focus when pressing the shutter button.
These steps will ensure that you capture the perfect shot every single time. With patience and practice, you can become a skilled NBA Getty Images photographer. You'll take beautiful photos that will last a lifetime.
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