Rookies Ready for Their Broadway Debut

Toney Douglas and Jordan Hill are ready to impress home fans in Garden debuts. MSG Photos

  But don’t let them confuse you. The nerves are definitely there leading up to Tuesday night’s Garden opener against the Philadelphia 76ers in New York’s third preseason game.  

“There are a little jitter bugs,” said Hill, the No. 8 pick in last June’s draft, following Monday’s practice. “But there’s nothing I can’t handle. I just have to play my game.”  

As a freshman at Arizona, Hill played only three minutes during an early-season game against Louisville at the Garden. Douglas, who played college ball at Auburn before transferring to Florida State, has never played at the World’s Most Famous Arena before.  

“I’m excited,” said Douglas, who was selected 29th overall. “It’s my first preseason home game and I’ve never played on that court before so it’s going to be exciting.”  

Hill and Douglas have already appeared in two preseason games, but both games were played outside New York City. The Knicks’ opener, which was considered a home game, took place in Albany against the New Jersey Nets and the team traveled to Boston last Friday to take on the Celtics.  

Both rookies have already played several minutes, scored their first NBA points and pulled their first rebounds, but nothing will compare to the first time they check into a game at MSG. Just ask David Lee, who is now in his fifth season with the Knicks.  

“Being nervous, being out of breath in about the first two times up and down the court,” Lee remembers about his first preseason game at MSG as a rookie. “That was a really cool experience. But I’m glad to have those jitters out the way.”  

As the preseason rolls on, Hill and Douglas seem to be adjusting to the NBA just fine. Hill scored only five points on 1-for-8 shooting from the field in the Knicks’ 115-107 win over the Nets on Oct. 4. He bounced back with nine points on 4-for-5 shooting in New York’s 96-82 loss in Boston.  

Hill now says he needs to focus on improving his rebounding and shot-blocking, two areas he excelled in during his three college seasons. But overall, he’s pleased with his rookie experience.  

“It’s been good, really good,” he said. “I’m just learning the ropes and trying to get a hang of everything. It’s a whole different world out here on the NBA level. It’s a lot different from college.”  

Douglas is averaging 9.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists through the first two games. His 23 minutes per game are a sign that he could be part of Mike D’Antoni’s rotation when the season begins in Miami on Oct. 28.  

Thirteen of the 16 players on the Knicks’ current roster have already played professionally at MSG, but everyone seems to be anticipating the game.   

“You’re always excited to start a new year at the Garden,” Lee said. “I think a big part of our success this year is going to be determined on how we can win at home. We had times last year when we put together a streak or two at home and we had times when we couldn’t defend our homecourt, so I think if we’re going to have a season where we make the playoffs a big part of it is going to be beating the teams we’re supposed to beat at home.”