The Westchester Knicks tipped off training camp this week, led by head coach Mike Miller and General Manager Allan Houston, looking to improve on last season’s 28-22 record that saw the young NBA Development League franchise reach the playoffs for the first time.
On Sunday, the Knicks will kick off the preseason schedule against the 87ers before welcoming the Long Island Nets to the Westchester County Center on Wednesday, Nov. 9. They will open up the regular season on Nov. 12 in Delaware.
“The D-League is all about change and adapting. You come in knowing that this team is not going to be like last year’s team. There’s different guys and it’s all about who can help us and the club in New York,” Miller said.
“It’s going to be different, but it’s going to be an exciting team. There’s a different cast of characters, but we’re going to have a fun time. We’re going to get the County Center rocking again.”
Sharpshooter Max Hooper, the 16th selection in the NBA D-League draft this year, said that since coming to Westchester, he’s found a profound difference between the professional and amateur game.
“It’s the nature of the D-League. Things move quick and you have to learn on the fly,” he said. “It’s like the difference between high school and college ball and then now between college and pro ball. The players are more athletic, they’re bigger and stronger. We just have to keep getting better everyday.”
Houston said that while winning with the Westchester Knicks was important, it was vital that the D-League squad and the team in Madison Square Garden stay on the same page as they seek to develop talent through their affiliate.
“The community has been great, and everyone at Madison Square Garden has embraced Westchester as an extension of the development process for the Knicks,” he said. “People are becoming more and more aware, not just of the Westchester County Center, but of the experience we offer and the great family environment we provide during games.
“Our coaches work with the Knicks’ staff and it’s a tangible process from top to bottom. So when players come to Westchester, they know that we are preparing them to play in the NBA. It’s all just a process, and it’s all about creating a certain mentality to help keep both teams winning.”
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