West Point, NY –- After Monday’s Media Day action at MSG Training Center, the Knicks hopped on a bus and headed for camp. Included in an itinerary full of team activities at the historic site of the United States Military Academy are a handful of practice sessions, the first of which took place this morning in Christl Arena.
Head Coach Derek Fisher was pleased with the team’s first official workout, telling the assembled media afterward: “It was good.”
In particular, he seemed happy not to have to waste time with work that is supposed to be done during the summer. “Most of our guys, if not all of them, have come in pretty fit,” he said. “So we don’t have to artificially focus on additional conditioning -- we can really just get better as a team and focus on competing, playing hard.”
Melo returns
After Fisher spoke, all eyes were on the New York’s returning star and prized rookie. Carmelo Anthony reported no issues in his return to on-court action, saying that he’s already gotten past the hard part of rehabbing his knee.
No one was too surprised to hear the positive feedback, because it’s also not his actually his first on-court action; Many of Melo's teammates joined him in Puerto Rico and continued to work hard in New York over the last few weeks.
That commitment they showed, he said, clearly carried over as the entire squad came together starting today: “It’s been good from a chemistry standpoint. Right now, guys seem like they get along, talking to each other, helping each other out.”
Another first for Porzingis
Kristaps Porzingis told reporters he’d never heard of West Point until he learned that the Knicks would be heading here for training camp, but that he’s excited to get to kick off his NBA career in such a hallowed location.
Like Fisher and Anthony, the No. 4 overall pick was happy with his first practice but cautioned that it’s still early.
“Practices are going to be shorter, but more intense,” he said, when asked to explain how today’s practice differed from what he’d become accustomed to as a professional in Spain.
Also different: His physique. The big man has worked hard to add weight to his tall, lanky frame –- “he’s a legit 7’3”,” said Anthony –- and Porzingis began to feel the benefit of the extra bulk today.
“I was real light during summer league," he said. “I can tell I’m a little heavier –- still light for these heavyweights -- but I’m getting there. I’m getting stronger, so that’s progress.