Knicks Bulletin: ‘That’s not for a guy like me, man’

New York won its third consecutive game and positively started a five-game homestand.

The Knicks hosted the Kings on Saturday inside the Garden and trounced the folks from Sacramento in a very offensive display, final score 140-123.

New York surely enjoyed the three days off and it showed, with an unexpected player putting up a triple-double, OG & Mikal going all-in on offense, and JB & KAT not having to do that much—all things considered.

Here’s what Coach Thibs and a few other Knickerbockers said before and after yesterday’s affair.

Tom Thibodeau

On the team’s win over Sacramento after nearly giving up a monster lead:

“You have to play well in all four quarters. That’s really where our focus is.”

On Josh Hart’s All-Star chances:

“I think it’s deserving, too. I think he’s really having a terrific season. He’s put a lot into it.

“I think it’s great he’s being recognized for the contributions that he’s making, because when you look at his role, he’s really starring in his role. You can’t ask for anything more.”

On Hart’s knee soreness:

“I think it’s been there. I think he just keeps going. So I think most guys right now this time of the year, everyone has something.”

On Mitchell Robinson’s recovery:

“It’s hard for me to say [if Robinson will return in January] because I’m not in for his individual workouts. I’m not in when he’s doing his weight training and his conditioning in there. But I see what he’s doing on the court, and around the team and the film sessions and things like that — and that’s all positive.

“I have to trust the medical people to give him clearance. When that happens, there’s a number of hurdles for him to get through. But there haven’t been any setbacks, which is very positive. And we want to be patient. When the time is right, it’s right so we’ll know.”

On Towns playing through his thumb injury:

“The thing about KAT is his versatility serves him so well. He can shoot the three. But he can also put it on the floor. He can drive the ball and post up. Play back to the basket. Shoot with either hand. Great touch. He’s got great hands. He plays through things, and that says a lot about him.”

On Towns’ shooting struggles following his thumb injury:

“It probably bothers him more when he misses. But he’s tough. He’ll figure it out.”

On the unusual three-day break:

“Obviously it’s a little unusual to have three days off so the challenge is to get some recovery time in, then combine that with some practice time. But no matter what you do in practice, you’re not going to get to that intensity level of a game. So you’ve got to make sure that you come back with that edge when you get that break.”

Josh Hart

On his All-Star chances:

“I don’t [pay much attention to it]. I mean, it’s cool, and if I was ever able to get to something like that, it would obviously be an honor—but that’s not for a guy like me, man.”

On his playing style:

“I don’t know [if fans like watching me play]. I hope so. I hope they do. I just try to go out there and play hard. That’s all that goes into my mind. I hope people enjoy it. I know it’s a little reckless for some, but you know, that’s me.”

On his knee soreness:

“It’s there. It’s intact.”

On his triple-doubles:

“That’s a lot of credit to Thomas Thibodeau putting me in a position to be successful.”

On playing hard and his perfect fit under Tom Thibodeau’s system:

“I think it’s always a good combination when you have a coach and player who match each other’s craziness. I gotta give [Thibodeau] all the credit for the success I’m having since I’ve been here.”

On his 10th place in All-Star voting from other NBA players:

“I feel half of them (votes) were probably dudes in this locker room.

“KAT probably texted his friends, ‘Yo, vote for Josh.’”

On his chances of being an All-Star:

“I feel like they appreciate what I do, but like I said, my game is not glitz and glamour that breeds that kind of accolade.”

On Jalen Brunson’s comment about Eagles fans having to harass Commanders supporters on Sunday:

“I don’t want to be harassed. We can all go to the game and have a fun time.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On why Hart deserves an All-Star nod:

“The All-Star Game, if I remember correctly, is for people who perform the best at that point in the season. That’s pretty much the definition. I don’t remember when it changed.”

On avoiding falling for underestimating sub-.500 teams:

“It’s unfair to say just because of where teams are in the standings that they’re not quality teams.

“These are the best basketball players in the entire world. Every time you go out there you have to put your best foot forward.”

Jalen Brunson

On ball movement in the Knicks’ win over Sacramento:

“Ball was moving and guys were making shots. When you’re playing at that type of pace out in the open floor, go out and find the open man and have trust in your teammates.”

On Eagles fans harassing non-Eagles fans (directed at Josh Hart):

“Tomorrow Josh Hart is going to the game, so Eagles fans you know what to do. Whenever you see someone not wearing Eagles gear, harass the hell out of them.”

World B. Free (Former NBA Player)

On his Hall of Fame candidacy:

“It would be a tear-dropping moment if I got in. To go through all the things I had to go through to get to where I was in the sport.”

On his basketball style growing up:

“The way I played the game, I know people didn’t think it was the right way. But it was the way I grew up, and it was something — it was always good for me. I enjoyed playing the game.

“That was the knock on me — ‘He’s going to shoot. He’s shooting before he gets into the building. And he’s taking these long shots.’ Well, yeah, I was taking those shots. But those shots are going in.”

On the origin of his ‘World’ nickname:

“First they called me ‘All World.’ Then they called me ‘Kangaroo,’ because I could jump. But then one time, I went to the basket, we had about 1,000 people out there in the park for a tournament, and I went up real high and a defensive person was in front of me, but I did a complete 360-degree turn on him, and did a Darryl Dawkins dunk — that’s how high I was up. And the crowd was just like, ‘Ohhh, that’s World.’ The crowd was like, ‘Worrlld.’”