Immanuel Quickley’s Emotional Journey with Toronto Raptors: Finding Home on the Court
Immanuel Quickley, the dynamic guard traded from the New York Knicks to the Toronto Raptors on December 30, is making waves with his on-court prowess and unique perspective on adapting to a new team. Since joining the Raptors, Quickley has seamlessly transitioned into a key role in the starting lineup, showcasing his scoring and playmaking abilities.
In a recent interview with Sportsnet in Canada, Quickley drew an analogy between adapting to a new team and courting a new romantic interest. He emphasized the importance of taking the time to understand and build chemistry with his new teammates, likening the process to dating before marriage. This candid comparison adds a personal touch to Quickley’s journey with the Raptors, showcasing his commitment to the team’s success.
Transitioning midseason poses its challenges, and Quickley, along with former Knicks teammate RJ Barrett, is still finding their footing in their new roles. The Raptors, currently holding a 16-27 record, are 4-7 since acquiring the duo in exchange for OG Anunoby.
Despite the team’s struggles, Quickley’s individual performance has been impressive. Since donning the Raptors jersey, he has averaged 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game. Quickley’s scoring ability has shone through, evident in five games where he tallied over 20 points, including a stellar 26-point performance against the Memphis Grizzlies on January 3, securing a 116-111 victory for the Raptors.
Notable is Quickley’s efficiency from beyond the arc, where he boasts a 45.5% shooting accuracy on 3-point attempts. While averaging a modest 6.0 attempts per game, Quickley’s ability to convert at a high rate adds a dynamic dimension to the Raptors’ offensive strategy. Additionally, his reliability at the free-throw line, with an 85.5% success rate, underscores his well-rounded scoring capabilities.
In a recent matchup against his former team, the New York Knicks, Quickley and Barrett received a warm welcome at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks, who have surged to a 9-2 record since the trade, dominated the game with a resounding 126-100 victory. Quickley, contributing 12 points and 11 assists in 31 minutes, expressed his gratitude for the reception, despite the unfavorable outcome.
Returning to the Garden, where he began his NBA journey, Quickley shared, “It was great, just to come back. Obviously, didn’t get the outcome we wanted, but just to see everybody where I started my professional career was pretty cool.” Barrett, with an impressive stat line of 20 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, echoed Quickley’s sentiments, appreciating the warm reception from the New York crowd.
“It’s like meeting a new girl,” Quickley said to Sportsnet in Canada. “You got to take the time to get to know her. You got to take her out to eat, stuff like that. You ain’t gonna just walk up to her and say, ‘Let’s get married.”
Immanuel Quickley on building chemistry with Raptors teammates:
“It’s like meeting a new girl. You got to take the time to get to know her. You got to take her out to eat, stuff like that. You ain’t gonna just walk up to her and say, ‘Let’s get married.’”
(via @Sportsnet) pic.twitter.com/5e9MTtYJIL
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 21, 2024
“It was great, just to come back,” Immanuel Quickley said. “Obviously, didn’t get the outcome we wanted, but just to see everybody where I started my professional career was pretty cool.”
Barrett, who had 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists, was also appreciative of the welcome return.
“Thank you to the fans, for sure,” Barrett said. “We got a tribute video. … I didn’t think we were going to get that. That was cool. I’m very appreciative of my time here. To come back had a lot of emotions, for sure. But it was fun to come back and play basketball again.”
