Knicks officially welcome Iman Shumpert

[StephNYKurry]

Someone just asked him in the chat What the Knicks need to do to be a championship contender and his response was this:


"Now we just need a bigger defensive presence as a whole, and we need to make sure people don't get second chances. If we can make people get one shot every possession, I think we will be in a better position to win games."

[ITGM]

Nice hat bro

[msg33]

I think we will do well with Iman Shumpert, we have addressed a glaring need for years, a play making 2 Guard and Back Court defender.

[Chislic]

Knicksnow.com

Iman Shumpert Live Chat
Friday June 24, 2011

NYK: Hey it's Iman. I appreciate all the welcomes to New York City. I'm going to do my best to work hard every day and bring a championship to New York.
1:11

Comment From ghaffar.mahmood
What can you bring to the table of an already talented knicks team?
1:11

NYK: A defensive mindset at the guard position. Also i think I bring a lot of athleticism.
1:11
Comment From bibbin.george1
What are your thoughts on playing in Mike D'antoni's system?
1:12

NYK: I love him as a coach! I've been watching him since I was in high school just watching and seeing that he's got that big basketball mind. He's someone I want to learn so much from. Every time I have a conversation with him I want to learn as much as I can. I'm just bring a sponge.
1:12
Comment From john.soohoo
how does it feel knowing that your going to pass the ball to the likes of Melo and STAT
1:13

NYK: Oh that's gonna make my decision making a lot easier! They take a lot of pressure off you offensively. I can play free knowing I can play off those guys. I will get a ton of open shots. Now I got to knock them down!
1:13

Comment From harlemdakid.daytwon.telfair
welcome to the new york knicks
1:13

NYK: Thanks! Can't wait for the season to start!
1:14

Comment From ghaffar.mahmood
The team needs help defensively. How are you as a defensive player and what can you do to become better defensively?
1:15

NYK: I think I am a good on the ball defender as well as playing passing lanes. What I have to get better at is not taking so many chances. It had a lot to do with us losing this year. I took a lot of gambling to take intiative to get a win. I have to tone down the gambling and continue playing solid defense.
1:15

Comment From daniel.rovin
What excites you the most about playing in NYC and with this Knicks team?
1:16

NYK: With this Knicks team what excites me the most is to play with Chauncey Billups, someone I have idolized for a long time. Most about the city is I know Knicks fans are die hard. I grew up a Bulls fan, and for the Knicks to now have me, everyone in my camp is a Knicks fan. I wore orange and blue in high school, so I have no problem wearing it now!
1:16

Comment From אלירן.אברמוב
are you ready to open up "Iman Island" !
1:16

NYK: I look forward to being a lockdown defender.
1:16

Comment From joe.calabrese
Welcome Iman! For those of us not too familiar with your game, is there an NBA player you could compare yourself to?
1:17

NYK: I don't like to compare myself. I just play the hardest I can and be the best I can be.
1:17
Comment From rhonda.dearborn
welcome! Can you run the P&R with Amar'e?
1:18

NYK: Oh yea! I feel like me and Amar'e playing the pick and roll will put a lot of pressure on whoever is trying to defend us.
1:18

Comment From javier.hernandez
What's your work ethic like?
1:18

NYK: I'm a gym rat. No days off.
1:18

Comment From elan.tanen
are you ready to guard players like kobe, d-wade, ray allen, or derrick rose?
1:18

NYK: I look forward to the challenge.
1:19

Comment From rahsaan.venable
What are your first impressions of New York City and playing in Madison Square Garden?
1:19

NYK: It's the biggest stage. The big stage brings the most out of big players so I am excited to see exactly what I can do. I know that being on a stage like this will bring the best out of me.
1:20

Comment From teardrop.jones
From your perspective, what do you think the Knicks need to win a championship at this point?
1:21

NYK: Now we just need a bigger defensive presence as a whole, and we need to make sure people don't get second chances. If we can make people get one shot every possession, I think we will be in a better position to win games.
1:22

NYK: Alright, thanks everyone for joining me. I look forward to playing my heart out each and every day. Can't wait to see you all at The Garden!
1:22

[SonOfMars]

How about that blue and white token, you guys feelin that?

[NBA Fan 1234]

I liked the pick when we made it and I like it even more now.

[BelieveTheDream]

those hats are sick, still hate the pick, Hope this kid proves me wrong

[StephNYKurry]

His whole ensemble was on point. At least we drafted someone who is well dressed, unlike that clown Kawhi Leonard. What The Hell was he doing last night?

[EchelonNYK]

Nice hat bro

Best Draft hats i've seen in a long time

[SonOfMars]

those hats are sick, still hate the pick, Hope this kid proves me wrong

Who'd you want?

[BelieveTheDream]

I just watcheed a video with his strengths and weaknesses...I get it hes a great defender I see he is quick with the ball which is good but on weaknesses itt was his deecision making on the jumpers he takes and He takes a lot of bad shots falling back and step backs and everythign which is why his % are so bad....If he cuts that out and becomes a PG and just shoots when he is open I could see him becoming a nice pickup for us but only time will tell

[BelieveTheDream]

those hats are sick, still hate the pick, Hope this kid proves me wrong

Who'd you want?

knowing we needed a guy with size who could run the floor and has potential Dontas MOntejunas was sitting for the picking and this kid has a ton of talent and in our system would of been a great fit for us, we could of taken a PG in late first early 2nd like a Charelss Jenkins/Norris cole/Reggie Jackson etc etc and we could of filled 2 needs...Ive been a huge fan of dontas for a while and I thgouth we had no shot of getting him and to see him available and us not take him really sucked

[NBA Fan 1234]

those hats are sick, still hate the pick, Hope this kid proves me wrong

Who'd you want?

knowing we needed a guy with size who could run the floor and has potential Dontas MOntejunas was sitting for the picking and this kid has a ton of talent and in our system would of been a great fit for us, we could of taken a PG in late first early 2nd like a Charelss Jenkins/Norris cole/Reggie Jackson etc etc and we could of filled 2 needs...Ive been a huge fan of dontas for a while and I thgouth we had no shot of getting him and to see him available and us not take him really sucked

Wing defender>soft forward that can't play center, doesn't help our rebounding problem, or defense. This pick was the right one...it did fit a need - wing defender. Shumpert's handle will also let Toney play off the ball a little more. Donatas was a D'Antoni pick...Shumpert was the right pick.

I watched Shumpert a lot (being a Duke and Vandy fan, I watch the SEC and ACC a lot)...people who don't like him now will like him once they watch him.

[StephNYKurry]

I just watcheed a video with his strengths and weaknesses...I get it hes a great defender I see he is quick with the ball which is good but on weaknesses itt was his deecision making on the jumpers he takes and He takes a lot of bad shots falling back and step backs and everythign which is why his % are so bad....If he cuts that out and becomes a PG and just shoots when he is open I could see him becoming a nice pickup for us but only time will tell

And this is why it helps if you watch college basketball instead of just watching the prospects individually. His team and coach was sorry for his entire career. He took bad shots on a bad team. Could they possibly have been better? Possibly. But those shots were taken because there was no one else to take them. Same things were said about Stephen Curry when he came out. His shot selection sucked because his team sucked.

I think Iman will relish his role not having to play the star role.

[EchelonNYK]

those hats are sick, still hate the pick, Hope this kid proves me wrong

Who'd you want?

knowing we needed a guy with size who could run the floor and has potential Dontas MOntejunas was sitting for the picking and this kid has a ton of talent and in our system would of been a great fit for us, we could of taken a PG in late first early 2nd like a Charelss Jenkins/Norris cole/Reggie Jackson etc etc and we could of filled 2 needs...Ive been a huge fan of dontas for a while and I thgouth we had no shot of getting him and to see him available and us not take him really sucked

Dude, Dontas is 7 feet 215. Playing center is more than just height.

[Gregory151]

Amareisreal Amar'e Stoudemire
@i_am_iman wish i was there today 2 welcome you 2 the the Team. Im here in the Chi for my @nikebasketball skills academy. See you soon! STAT

Gotta love STAT

[Fury]

Shumpert is a better rebounder than Motiejunas.

[aveboogie7]

Amareisreal Amar'e Stoudemire
@i_am_iman wish i was there today 2 welcome you 2 the the Team. Im here in the Chi for my @nikebasketball skills academy. See you soon! STAT

Gotta love STAT

Indeed!!!

[moocow007]

It's encouraging to see this franchise begin to put emphasis on defense. Regardless of how the pick turns out, at least we're moving in the right direction ...


"Iman's ability lines up with what we want to do and are trying to do." - Coach D'Anton

Reference to defense by D'antoni?

First day of practice...

D'Antoni to Iman: "Chuck and duck, Iman! CHUCK AND DUCK!!!!!"

[SonOfMars]

@DraftExpress
Jonathan Givony
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