ORLANDO, Fla. — Jericho Sims may have an opportunity to be the second consecutive Knick to win the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
One 12 months after Obi Toppin took residence the title on the 2022 All-Star Weekend, Sims has dedicated to take part within the occasion later this month, in keeping with The Athletic.
The second-year huge man had expressed curiosity final month in being included within the discipline Feb. 18 in Salt Lake Metropolis. He’ll substitute Portland’s Shaedon Sharpe, who withdrew earlier Tuesday.
Toppin’s victory one 12 months in the past — in his second strive in as many NBA seasons — marked the fifth time a Knicks participant had gained the Slam Dunk title, becoming a member of Kenny Walker in 1989 and three-time winner Nate Robinson in 2006, 2009 and 2010.
RJ Barrett nonetheless was not at full power in his return to the Knicks’ lineup after he missed one recreation with a non-COVID sickness.
However following a gradual begin wherein he missed his first 4 pictures and had simply two factors within the first half, Barrett scored 13 after halftime — together with two key 3-pointers — to assist the Knicks to a 102-98 win over the Magic.
“The primary half I used to be nonetheless somewhat woozy, however I labored my approach by means of it and I used to be capable of finding it within the second half,” stated Barrett, who had been a late scratch Sunday in opposition to the 76ers. “For certain, it’s not the best to play if you’re not feeling your greatest.
“However I attempted to do no matter I may and I used to be capable of finding the vitality within the second half.”
Derrick Rose hasn’t performed in a recreation for the Knicks because the calendar flipped to 2023, together with his final look approaching New Yr’s Eve in Houston.
With the commerce deadline looming on Thursday, coach Tom Thibodeau was requested if he’d wish to see the 34-year-old former league MVP stay in his mentoring position for the group’s younger gamers or be given an opportunity for enjoying time elsewhere.
“He’s been nice. In no matter position you ask Derrick to play, he embraces it. He’s at all times been a team-first man. So I do know he’s at all times prepared,” Thibodeau stated. “He contributes in numerous other ways to our membership.
“So far as the commerce stuff, there’s one million trades that get talked about and really not often does something get performed. So I at all times need him to be round.”
Barrett on the Magic’s Paolo Banchero, a fellow Duke product: “I used to be capable of go to a recreation when [Duke] performed within the Backyard final 12 months and I used to be capable of meet him. … It’s cool to see how he’s been progressing and simply the wonderful 12 months that he’s been having. He’s very gifted. He’s helped them rather a lot. They’ve gotten rather a lot higher this 12 months, in order that they acquired one.”
The No. 1 general decide within the 2022 draft, Banchero is averaging 20.2 factors over 48 video games as a rookie, together with 16 Tuesday evening.
Because the three-week mark since Mitchell Robinson’s thumb surgical procedure (Jan. 19) approaches this week, Thibodeau stated the middle “will likely be going for a checkup shortly and as soon as we get that replace will give it to you guys.”