Although the New York Knicks don’t have a great track record with draft selections, especially since 2010, in 2021 they got one of the biggest steals of the NBA Draft. In the 2021 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks selected Immanuel Quickley with the 25th overall pick. Technically, the pick belonged to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Still, a draft day trade between the Knicks, Thunder, and Minnesota Timberwolves eventually landed New York the 25th pick in exchange for the draft rights to Leandro Bolmaro.

Not only did Quickley immediately make an impact once a member of the Knicks, he won over the fanbase’s hearts, which is an incredibly hard thing to do in New York. In his three and a half seasons with the Knicks, Quickley was outstanding.

The 6-foot-3 guard out of Kentuckyembraced the city of New York with his playing style and energy. His shifty drives to the rim along with his ability to go on incredible hot streaks with his shooting stroke, ignited Madison Square Garden on a nightly basis.

He would develop into one of the best bench players in the NBA. In the 2022-23 season, Quickley would finish as the runner-up for the Sixth Man of the Year award with averages of 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game.In the 2023-24 season, Quickley would eventually be part of a blockbuster tradeinvolving teammate RJ Barrett being sent to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for OG Anunoby. In an increased role with the Raptors, Quickley has only further displayed the potential that was on notice in New York. However, being behind the Knicks’ superstar, Jalen Brunson, Quickley would’ve never gotten the opportunity to flourish into the player that he could truly become.