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Damian Lillard Made Time for a Knicks Rookie

Almost a full week before his game-winning shot against the Bulls, Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard took time out of his schedule to speak with Knicks rookie Immanuel Quickley.

New York Knicks v Portland Trail Blazers Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images

Knicks rookie Immanuel Quickley burst on to the Pacific Northwest’s radar after he posted 31 points off the bench in the Trail Blazers’ narrow 116-113 victory last Saturday. Following the action, the former Kentucky standout was put in contact with Damian Lillard.

After a text exchange, Quickley spoke with New York Post contributor Zach Braziller about the time that Lillard set aside for him.

“It was really cool to be able to talk to somebody on that level,” the impressive rookie guard Quickley said Thursday.

Quickley went on to explain that Lillard highlighted several key topics during their conversation.

“I took everything away, honestly, from the type of person he is first of all, the type of player he is, [the] competitor [he is],” Quickley said. “Then really just giving me advice on obviously the point guard position, but what it takes to win in this league, what it takes to help your team win, how to bounce back from good games, bad games, staying even-keeled throughout the whole season.

Selected with the No. 25 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Quickley is averaging 11.6 points and 2.5 assists per game to start the year.

You can read the full story from Braziller at the New York Post.