Jordan Comes Up Big in Win
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Jerome Jordan turned in his best performance of Summer League vs. Detroit.
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Jerome Jordan finally had his breakout game in Las Vegas, and he did it against a lottery pick.
Matched up against the Pistons’ Greg Monroe, the seventh overall pick in June’s draft, Jordan scored 11 of his 16 points in the first half and grabbed seven rebounds to pace New York’s summer league squad to a 92-80 victory over the Detroit Pistons Thursday afternoon at the Cox Pavilion.
"He had his best game today, no doubt," said assistant coach Dan D'Antoni, who is serving as the team's Summer League head coach. "This is the game we were waiting for him to have."
Third-year forward Bill Walker contributed 19 points and five assists for the Knicks, who outscored the Pistons by 13 in the third quarter to build a double-digit lead and pull away for their second win of the summer. Rookie swingman Landry Fields added 15 points and six rebounds,
“Today I just wanted to be aggressive, get to the basket and create opportunities for my teammates,” said Walker, who lost 25 pounds this offseason, on MSG. “I’m a lot quicker so I can actually lead a break now.”
The Knicks acquired Jordan from the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this month in exchange for cash considerations. Jordan, who was selected in the second round with the 44th overall pick, has impressed the Knicks with his offense through four games, averaging 8.9 points per game.
“His offense is good,” Coach Mike D’Antoni told MSG. “He’s got a nice little shot. He probably needs a couple of years with his development to get strength and run a little bit better and not to be so gangly. But, again, I think he’s a little bit of a project, but in a couple years I think he’ll be fine.”
D’Antoni believes that all three rookies – Jordan, Fields and Andy Rautins– will make the regular-season roster, unless, of course, there any unforeseen moves from now till the start of the season.
“I think so, barring any kind of trades or if the numbers just don’t work out,” D’Antoni said. “We like each guy and we think each guy can contribute some place down the road.”
Matched up against the Pistons’ Greg Monroe, the seventh overall pick in June’s draft, Jordan scored 11 of his 16 points in the first half and grabbed seven rebounds to pace New York’s summer league squad to a 92-80 victory over the Detroit Pistons Thursday afternoon at the Cox Pavilion.
"He had his best game today, no doubt," said assistant coach Dan D'Antoni, who is serving as the team's Summer League head coach. "This is the game we were waiting for him to have."
Third-year forward Bill Walker contributed 19 points and five assists for the Knicks, who outscored the Pistons by 13 in the third quarter to build a double-digit lead and pull away for their second win of the summer. Rookie swingman Landry Fields added 15 points and six rebounds,
“Today I just wanted to be aggressive, get to the basket and create opportunities for my teammates,” said Walker, who lost 25 pounds this offseason, on MSG. “I’m a lot quicker so I can actually lead a break now.”
The Knicks acquired Jordan from the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this month in exchange for cash considerations. Jordan, who was selected in the second round with the 44th overall pick, has impressed the Knicks with his offense through four games, averaging 8.9 points per game.
“His offense is good,” Coach Mike D’Antoni told MSG. “He’s got a nice little shot. He probably needs a couple of years with his development to get strength and run a little bit better and not to be so gangly. But, again, I think he’s a little bit of a project, but in a couple years I think he’ll be fine.”
D’Antoni believes that all three rookies – Jordan, Fields and Andy Rautins– will make the regular-season roster, unless, of course, there any unforeseen moves from now till the start of the season.
“I think so, barring any kind of trades or if the numbers just don’t work out,” D’Antoni said. “We like each guy and we think each guy can contribute some place down the road.”
