Chapter 584 - 83: [I Want to Help the Knicks Return to First]

Su Xi was a man of his word. In the first game back in New York, the Knicks started Milicic. They fed him the ball constantly, letting him play one-on-one, orchestrate the offense, and showcase his talent.

To be honest, Milicic was indeed a bit timid and hesitant. His moves weren’t fluid.

The first game went terribly.

He played like a rookie who had just arrived in the NBA. Although his body was physically ready for the NBA’s level of contact, he hadn’t adapted mentally or technically.

The Knicks barely managed to win the game, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks—a team in the running for the number one draft pick.

In his matchup against Bogut, Milicic got completely dominated.

Bogut put up 22 points and 15 rebounds. Although Bogut was transitioning into more of a blue-collar player, he still held the advantage in his matchup against Milicic.

Milicic only had 15 points and 11 rebounds. While it was a double-double, he took 22 shots, and his usage rate was the highest on the team.

After the game, Milicic was very hard on himself. He had already apologized to his teammates during halftime. But to his surprise, his Knicks teammates didn’t blame him. Even during their post-game review, no one harshly criticized him. Instead, his teammates faulted themselves for not meshing well enough with the newcomer.

This was something Milicic had never experienced on his previous two teams.

He realized he had truly joined a loving family, a united team.

Compared to the Knicks, his previous two teams felt like gangs of thugs.

If you played poorly, you were thrown on the bench. No one would forgive you; you were simply ignored.

Milicic was a highly sensitive person. He came to the league at 17, unable to even speak English at the time. To go from being a chosen one to a complete nobody, it was perfectly normal for him to develop a mindset of giving up and avoidance.

"You played well," Su Xi told Milicic. "At least you were never afraid to shoot. We gave you the ball, and you were able to make a play. If you were too scared or unwilling to even receive a pass, that’s when it would be truly disappointing. This shows you still want to become a better player."

Su Xi patted his shoulder. "Don’t rush it. Take your time. You’ll succeed."

Su Xi’s words were a huge encouragement to Milicic.

Furthermore, when Bogut mocked Milicic after the game, everyone on the Knicks, from Isaiah Thomas down to the bench players, came out in unified support of Milicic.

Bogut said after the game, "Milicic is just a bust. It’s foolish for the Knicks to try and use him to stop me. And even if he wasn’t a bust, I’m the number one pick from 2005, and he’s just the number two from 2003. When it comes to white centers, I am the supreme god of the NBA. I might even be the best in NBA history!"

"This trade was definitely a mistake for the Knicks. Milicic can’t even stop me, and they expect him to go up against Shaquille O’Neal? Ridiculous!"

"Only by getting me can the Knicks truly defeat Cleveland."

Bogut had always been a big mouth who loved to brag.

He had been thoroughly dominated by Su Xi a few times, so now he was very well-behaved when it came to any topic involving Su Xi, not daring to bare his teeth at him. But, true to form, he bullied the weak and feared the strong. This time, he set his sights on Milicic, thinking he’d found a soft target.

He even hoped to use this to send a signal to the Knicks: ’Trade for me! I’m very willing to play in New York. I’m very willing to help you defeat the Cavaliers.’

However, after hearing the reporter’s description of the comments, Isaiah Thomas raised an eyebrow. "Bogut? Who’s he? What gives him the right to be compared to Darko? An eagle might sometimes fly lower than a sparrow, but a sparrow can never hope to fly higher than an eagle."

"Darko is obviously an eagle soaring through the heavens. Andre Bogut? He’s nothing but a low-level, blue-collar player."

"Time will clearly show everyone what kind of player Milicic will be. His development was just delayed a few years. He will reach the heights he was always meant to."

"Because he has now come to the side of Goat Su Xi and the great mentor, Isaiah Thomas."

Isaiah Thomas didn’t forget to pat himself on the back.

But his words were not without substance.

He saw Milicic’s potential, even though he had played horribly in this game.

But... he still saw flashes of brilliance.

Milicic had the ability to handle the ball. His dribbling was surprisingly steady, meaning he could actually facilitate plays from above the three-point line. He also possessed excellent court vision and passing ability. He could even take jump shots from the high post, and he had back-to-the-basket skills in the low post.

It was just that on his previous teams, they either made him specialize in one thing or gave him no room for error.

He had missed three and a half very precious years, but thankfully, he was still only 21 years old.

And his body was much stronger than when he was 17.

The Knicks were willing to give him the ball and nurture his confidence.

Plus, the Knicks had Su Xi. Su Xi was a powerful and versatile player who could compensate for Milicic’s immaturity.

Isaiah Thomas had many moments of insight tonight. He even believed that as long as Milicic was properly developed, the Knicks would reach an unprecedented level of strength.

One Milicic would be more impactful than last season’s Eddie Curry, Tony Battie, and Jerome James combined.