Knicks Notes: Towns, Brunson, Shamet, Sims

Karl Anthony cities has already played on Christmas Day, but this year the game is special because it’s being held at Madison Square Garden, writes Zach Braziller of the New York Post. Towns, who grew up in the New York area, was always far from home in his previous Christmas pageants, but an off-season trade for him Curtsy lets him play in front of family members and friends.

“It’s my first home” he said. “I never managed that. So it will be fun to be able to do it in front of the family. It’s crazy to me growing up in this area and always seeing the Knicks play on Christmas Day, watching (Carmelo Anthony) go crazy on Christmas Day. And now to be able to have my name in the history of Knicks players playing on Christmas is a great honor for me.”

Braziller points out that Christmas Day games have been a tradition for the Knicks since 1947 and that today’s contest is the 12th in the last 15 years. Although some NBA players would prefer to have the holidays off, Towns considers it an honor to be there.

“I like playing basketball. For me it’s a great Christmas present,” he said. “I can go out there, lace up my shoes and play. So I’m excited.”

There’s more from New York:

• Offseason trades for cities and Mikal Bridges have made the Knicks less dependent Jalen Brunson to further the offense, Braziller adds in a separate story. The most recent example came on Monday when they handily beat Toronto despite a poor night from Brunson, who was limited to 12 points while shooting 4 of 13 from the field and 0 of 5 from long range. Brunson is shooting 4.4 times less per game than last season, but his shooting percentage and assist rate have improved. “I think it will open up even more opportunities for him.” Bridges said. “If you have to respect everyone, you can’t help much. You’re not helping, it’s going to be hard to protect him. I just try to keep teams honest, so they have to play straight up and then JB will be in kill mode.”
• Landry Shamet played just one minute in his first game with the Knicks, but SNY’s Ian Begley indicates in a Mailbag column that he will likely get a chance to earn a spot in the rotation. Begley points out that the team has one of the lowest-scoring bench units in the league and thinks Shamet might be able to ease the load on the starting guard and wings.
• The Knicks demanded at least two second-round picks in return for the backup center Jericho Sims When teams inquired about him during the offseason, Begley added. Sims can be expendable at times Mitchell Robinson returns from offseason ankle surgery.