Quentin Grimes will have to wait a few more days to get into a game.
The second-year guard was ruled out of Wednesday’s preseason game against the Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis as he works his way back from a sore left foot. After practicing fully on Monday for the first time, Grimes practiced again on Tuesday, but the Knicks are taking it slow with the former first-round draft pick.
“Just following the plan,” coach Tom Thibodeau said Tuesday. “I think [being cautious is] all part of it, because we’re in the preseason it’s finding that balance of we have to prioritize the overall health and this is part of a season. Sometimes it happens at the beginning of the season, sometimes the middle, sometimes the end. But that’s why you have a bench and so when one guy goes out, it’s an opportunity for somebody else to get in there.”
Thibodeau said Grimes is “coming along well.” The coach didn’t say if any other players will be held out of the game. Evan Fournier was rested in the second preseason game. Jalen Brunson, meanwhile, would like to play in all four contests.
Quentin Grimes NBAE via Getty Images“I’m willing to play every single game I’m available, and I want to play every single game that I’m available,” he said. “But that’s a [Thibodeau] question.”
The Knicks hosted Cardozo High School coach Ron Naclerio and White Plains Coach Spencer Mayfield for practice on Tuesday, continuing a trend of lower-level local coaches visiting the facility for workouts. Columbia coach Jim Engles and Glenn Braica of St. Francis Brooklyn recently attended a practice.
“We all share with each other. There’s great coaches at every level,” Thibodeau said. “We all share different ideas with each other, we learn from each other. It’s always great to have people like that in the gym.”
