Latest news with #DelonWright
New York Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Delon Wright maximizing a Knicks playoffs chance he never expected: ‘Something you dream of'
INDIANAPOLIS — Delon Wright did not envision this. But he's capitalizing on his chance. The Knicks have needed him to. Wright had barely played through the first two rounds of the postseason, but he was elevated in coach Tom Thibodeau's rotation for the last three games of the Eastern Conference finals against the Pacers. 'It means a lot,' Wright said after the Knicks' 111-94 Game 5 win over the Pacers on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. 'This is something you dream of — being in New York, playing in Madison Square Garden. This is a dream come true. 'I didn't know if this opportunity was gonna come when I got here, the team was so stacked, the rotation was stacked. But I just tried to figure out a way to impact the game when I get in there.' Delon Wright looks to make a pass during the Knicks' Game 5 win over the Pacers. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Wright, whom the Knicks acquired from the Bucks in the deal that sent Jericho Sims to Milwaukee, is one of the team's best defenders, and his length allows him to disrupt passing lanes. He has a limited offensive game, but his defensive acumen has been needed in recent games to slow the Pacers' high-octane offense. Cam Payne, who had been ahead of him in the rotation beforehand, is a poor defender and two inches shorter. Follow The Post's coverage of the Knicks in the 2025 NBA Playoffs Sports+ subscribers: Sign up for Inside the Knicks to get daily newsletter coverage and join Expert Take for insider texts about the series. Wright's defense was particularly valuable in Game 5, when the Knicks made it a point of emphasis to pick up Tyrese Haliburton further up the court in order to get him out of rhythm. Wright, a 10-year journeyman, played 32 minutes the last three games. The Knicks outscored the Pacers by 17 points when he was on the court during that stretch. Delon Wright defends during the Knicks' Game 5 win against the Pacers. Imagn Images 'You gotta try something different [against Haliburton],' Wright said. 'I feel like when I come in, I just try to use my IQ, getting deflections, disrupting their offense. I know they're a high-paced offense, so I just try to do something to disrupt it. 'I like to fly around. I like to go after the ball and be a free safety. … My teammates feed off of it.' The Knicks recorded a 103.0 defensive rating (points given up per 100 possessions) with Wright on the floor the last three games. Wright has largely come off the bench alongside Landry Shamet, providing the Knicks their best defensive lineup. 'I've known Delon since playing with him in Dallas,' Jalen Brunson said. 'I know what he brings to the table regardless. … It's a credit to their work ethic, the work they do and being professionals that they are. So, I have a lot of respect for them and I'm happy they came in and did what they did.' Like Wright, Shamet has been elevated in the rotation the last three games largely due to his defensive effort. 'I played with Landry in D.C., so we're pretty familiar with each other,' Wright said. 'I know that he's a defensive guy, he can shoot it. We both got our opportunity the same game, and we've been trying to seize the moment, seize the opportunity and prove that we can play and contribute to this team.' That contribution has certainly been felt.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Knicks' massive Delon Wright gamble paid off in Game 3
Delon Wright looks to pass the ball during the Knicks' win May 26. INDIANAPOLIS — With the season pretty much on the line, Tom Thibodeau turned to … Delon Wright? Yes. And it worked. Wright had barely played since the Knicks acquired him from the Bucks in February in the deal that sent Jericho Sims to Milwaukee. Advertisement He started five games while Jalen Brunson was injured toward the end of the regular season, but other than that, he mostly collected DNPs. Entering the Knicks' 106-100 Game 3 win over the Pacers on Sunday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, he had played just 3:32 the entire postseason. But there he was Sunday night, getting over 13 minutes of action. And he was on the floor at the end of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth quarter when the Knicks mounted their comeback. Delon Wright looks to pass the ball during the Knicks' win May 25. Charles Wenzelberg He was subbed in with 1:39 left in the third quarter and the Knicks trailing by 13. He subbed out with 8:48 left in the fourth quarter and the Knicks trailing by three. Advertisement His layup had cut the deficit to five beforehand. Delon Wright fights for possession during the Knicks' win May 25. Charles Wenzelberg 'I think you just take the information you have and you look at the groupings, what's the best thing for the team,' Thibodeau said Monday. 'We always prioritize that. And there's a lot of guys that are making sacrifices, and that's not easy, but if you put the team first, I think good things come from that. So, I think we're seeing that with this group.' Wright only had those two points and one assist, but his defense was pivotal. Follow The Post's coverage of the Knicks in the 2025 NBA Playoffs Sports+ subscribers: Sign up for Inside the Knicks to get daily newsletter coverage and join Expert Take for insider texts about the series. 'Just a true professional,' Mikal Bridges said after the game of Wright. 'Works hard every single day and got his name called and he's ready for the moment.' Advertisement Cam Payne was previously ahead of Wright in the rotation and, along with Miles McBride, had gotten the bulk of the bench minutes at guard. Delon Wright fights for the ball during the Knicks' win May 25. Charles Wenzelberg But outside of Game 1 of the first round against the Pistons, Payne has struggled offensively with erratic shot selection. And he's a poor defender. He got his first DNP of the postseason on Sunday. Wright is limited offensively, but has stuck around the league 10 years due to his defensive acumen. And at 6-foot-5, he has more length than the 6-foot-3 Payne. The Knicks' stifling defense late — with Wright on the court — helped power the comeback, conceding just 42 points in the second half. Advertisement 'With other guys playing, all four of the guys that played off the bench are really defensive guys,' Tyrese Haliburton said. 'They come in and wreak havoc. We just didn't do a good job of continuing to play fast. I feel like I did a poor job of keeping pace in the game, especially in the fourth [quarter].' Giving some of the most important minutes of the season — and his coaching career — to Wright was a huge gamble for Thibodeau. For one game, at least, he was rewarded.
New York Post
27-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Knicks' massive Delon Wright gamble paid off in Game 3
INDIANAPOLIS — With the season pretty much on the line, Tom Thibodeau turned to … Delon Wright? Yes. And it worked. Wright had barely played since the Knicks acquired him from the Bucks in February in the deal that sent Jericho Sims to Milwaukee. He started five games while Jalen Brunson was injured toward the end of the regular season, but other than that, he mostly collected DNPs. Entering the Knicks' 106-100 Game 3 win over the Pacers on Sunday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, he had played just 3:32 the entire postseason. But there he was Sunday night, getting over 13 minutes of action. And he was on the floor at the end of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth quarter when the Knicks mounted their comeback. 3 Delon Wright looks to pass the ball during the Knicks' win May 25. Charles Wenzelberg He was subbed in with 1:39 left in the third quarter and the Knicks trailing by 13. He subbed out with 8:48 left in the fourth quarter and the Knicks trailing by three. His layup had cut the deficit to five beforehand. 3 Delon Wright fights for possession during the Knicks' win May 25. Charles Wenzelberg 'I think you just take the information you have and you look at the groupings, what's the best thing for the team,' Thibodeau said Monday. 'We always prioritize that. And there's a lot of guys that are making sacrifices, and that's not easy, but if you put the team first, I think good things come from that. So, I think we're seeing that with this group.' Wright only had those two points and one assist, but his defense was pivotal. Follow The Post's coverage of the Knicks in the 2025 NBA Playoffs Sports+ subscribers: Sign up for Inside the Knicks to get daily newsletter coverage and join Expert Take for insider texts about the series. 'Just a true professional,' Mikal Bridges said after the game of Wright. 'Works hard every single day and got his name called and he's ready for the moment.' Cam Payne was previously ahead of Wright in the rotation and, along with Miles McBride, had gotten the bulk of the bench minutes at guard. 3 Delon Wright fights for the ball during the Knicks' win May 25. Charles Wenzelberg But outside of Game 1 of the first round against the Pistons, Payne has struggled offensively with erratic shot selection. And he's a poor defender. He got his first DNP of the postseason on Sunday. Wright is limited offensively, but has stuck around the league 10 years due to his defensive acumen. And at 6-foot-5, he has more length than the 6-foot-3 Payne. The Knicks' stifling defense late — with Wright on the court — helped power the comeback, conceding just 42 points in the second half. 'With other guys playing, all four of the guys that played off the bench are really defensive guys,' Tyrese Haliburton said. 'They come in and wreak havoc. We just didn't do a good job of continuing to play fast. I feel like I did a poor job of keeping pace in the game, especially in the fourth [quarter].' Giving some of the most important minutes of the season — and his coaching career — to Wright was a huge gamble for Thibodeau. For one game, at least, he was rewarded.
