Kevin Huerter, Albanian by birth, made his NBA debut at the Garden in 2018, and now the 3-point shooting swingman will play his first playoff game in the same location on Sunday as a key member of the Hawks.
« Somehow ironic how it all comes together, » said Huerter of the Post in a telephone interview. « It is easy for my friends and family to go to the game. »
It’s a close community in his hometown of Clifton Park – between Albany and Saratoga Springs. Shenendehowa is the high school powerhouse in what is Knicks Land. « I think the people near me have roots for me and the Hawks, » said Huerter. “Other people in the area are looking for the Knicks. There is a dilemma. «
Despite the Hawks’ 3-0 record against the Knicks this season, the 22-year-old suspects that his club could spoil the Big Apple party.
» One hundred percent, we have every confidence into the world, « said Huerter. » We don’t really see these three games as an important factor for the series. We feel very good about ourselves. They beat us three times this year, but we could have won all three games. We like the matchup and are ready for the challenge. «
» It’s going to be wild, « added Huerter. » It’s something we expect. MSG definitely has a reputation for being a difficult place to get all the fans in. «
On June 21, 2018, the same night the Knicks took Kevin Knox in 9th place, 250 friends and family gathered at a country club in Rexford, New York. Ten picks later, at 19, the Hawks were designing Huerter. The country club broke out.
Huerter, who had never trained for the Knicks, had spent two years in Maryland and thought he would be returning for a third season. He excelled in the NBA Draft Combine in 5-a-side. 5 fight.
Kevin Huerter was in love with basketball from day one and realized his dreams from New York to Maryland to the Atlanta Hawks with his unforgettable Draft Night. (@Jeep) pic.twitter.com/aNwQQDABEj
« It was a dream come true, » said Huerter. « I put my feet in to see where my design inventory was and still thought about going back to college. But my game began and I did had really good workouts when i heard my name with my famil ie and friends, it was all I ever wanted. «
Huerter has cemented his place in the Hawks rotation this season, even after Atlanta signed the wings Bogdan Bogdanovic and Danilo Gallinari out of season.
Huerter averaged 11.9 points, 3 , 3 assists and shot 36.3 percent out of 3-point range. He started 49 games, but an NBA source said Huerter will come off the bench for D’Andre Hunter in that series – with Hunter’s idea as an option to defend Julius Randle.
« I’m always confident in myself and in what I’m putting on the table, » said Huerter. « Although they took many steps, I was confident on the field to find a way. «
» Immediately they like to talk about my 3-point shooting for reasons I don’t know about, « said Huerter. » I’m known for shooting being my forte, but mine Energie has helped us defensively in games. « And to win big playoff games, you have to you defend. «
This is the Knicks cup of tea. Although Atlanta was predicted as the playoff team ahead of the season, the Knicks were fired.
» They play hard, « said Huerter. » They are well trained and have an all-star in Julius Randle. You put it all together and they had a great season. «
Huerter will enter the final year of his rookie contract in 2021-22 before becoming a restricted free agent. As a teenager, Huerter had roots not for the Knicks, but for individual players – Chauncey Billups, Allen Iverson, Dwyane Wade,
« I’m never satisfied and still excited about what the future will bring, » said Huerter, whose father Tom played in Siena and was the team’s longtime broadcaster to be a team that is building and having success this season. « That makes me more excited about the future. »
Gallinari is not the only ex-Knick on the Hawks. Stephen Giles, the top pro scout of Atlanta, was part of the last Knicks playoff team in 2013 as an advance scout for Mike Woodson’s staff.
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