The New York Knicks are renowned for relying on their starters, but the players are keen to voice that their success is a team effort.
‘Knicks in six’ has been the theme of New York’s successful playoff run to date, defeating the Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics by the same series scoreline.
And while Tom Thibodeau came in for criticism for playing his starters long into their blowout win over the Celtics in Game 6 to seal the series, he eventually relented by playing PJ Tucker for a few minutes.
There were minutes for Cameron Payne too, with the former Phoenix Suns star featuring in a limited capacity in all six games.
Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty ImagesJalen Brunson praises Cameron Payne
Cameron Payne averaged only 4.8 minutes per game during the series with the Celtics. This was down on the 8.8 minutes he averaged against the Pistons.
Payne had begun the Pistons series with a splash, scoring 14 points in Game 1, that even drew praise from Magic Johnson.
Since then he has had a more withdrawn role, but star teammate Jalen Brunson wants Payne to know he is appreciated for the energy he provides to the team.
Speaking on a new edition of The Roommates podcast, Brunson acknowledged Payne’s lack of minutes.
Brunson said: “The way Cam approached our games, obviously he didn’t get the playing time that he wanted, but the way he was still locked in, the way he was still keeping our heads in the game every single, every single time, every single possession, he was the first one off the bench, cheering for us, everything.
“I just feel like that’s there’s such a skill that’s lost, and it’s such, like it’s like leaving your ego at the door.
“I feel like it’s such, it’s so lost in today’s world. And the way he was able to kind of put that aside and say, whatever the team needs, I’m gonna be about it.”
Jalen Brunson says Cameron Payne made impact at practice
Knicks fans get to see the final output from the team on the court. And there they saw very little of Cameron Payne. But teammate Brunson sees him having a big impact at practice sessions.
Brunson explains: “He had energy every single day, every single practice shoot around everything.
“That’s big time that, I mean, it’s something so small and people are not gonna recognize.
“But like, I feel like as teammates, like, I appreciate that. I appreciate that. Like, wholeheartedly.”