Kemba Walker fans in The Bronx aren’t going to want to hear this one from Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau.
Walker had not played for six straight games since Thibodeau officially announced the point guard was being yanked from the rotation. The Knicks are 1-5 in that span after their 90-87 loss Friday in Toronto.
Alec Burks, Walker’s replacement, had his worst outing since he became a starter in the heartbreaking loss, scoring one point and shooting 0-for-7 in 37 minutes. Burks had a big miss in the paint in the final minute Friday.
There have been opportunities to spot Walker some minutes because the Knicks have been shorthanded. Even a little time on the court could help keep him in condition, or even serve as a showcase for the UConn legend.
For instance, on Wednesday, the Knicks were down between 15 and 27 points in Indiana during the final 17 minutes during a 122-102 blowout.
Thibodeau was asked a question centered on why he didn’t try to get Walker some run to keep him in shape. The coach’s answer reflected how deeply he believes the four-time All-Star no longer can create a winning climate when he’s in the game.
“We have respect for Kemba but the way we played in that game, the third quarter we still had a shot,’’ Thibodeau said. “They were up 14. If we make the next shot it’s 10. And you can make up ground quickly. We’re looking at the guys who were out there.
“Obviously we didn’t get the job done. We have to focus on our improvement and do what we think is best for the team.’’
With limited media access due to the pandemic, Obi Toppin hadn’t been asked about his between-the-legs dunk at Indiana on Wednesday until after the game Friday. Toppin also did a Slam-Dunk Contest jam against Charlotte in November on a windmill. Both dunks incited rallies by the other squad instead of his own.
“That between-the-legs dunk, it felt good,’’ Toppin said after the loss Friday. “It was exactly like my dunk that I did at Dayton in my second year. It was crazy. I was looking at a video. It was the Dayton dunk and the one I did the other night. And they flopped the jerseys. It was the same exact rhythm and motion of the dunk. It was great .’’
Toppin was runner-up in the Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star Weekend last season.
Raptors coach Nick Nurse raved about being around RJ Barrett this summer when Team Canada played an Olympic qualifier in British Columbia. (Team Canada didn’t qualify).
Nurse said the most “interesting thing’’ and “super pleasantly surprised” with Barrett’s “team demeanor” for Canada. He said Barrett was “way more energetic’’, “bouncy’’ and “fun.’’
“Teammates liked him,’’ Nurse said. “He likes to practice. He brings a good positive energy to the team. He plays stone-faced a lot so it caught me off guard.’’