Bulls fan Shumpert happy to be a Knick
Iman Shumpert, the team's first-round draft pick, is introduced by the Knicks at the team's training facility in Greenburgh, N.Y. (June 24, 2011) Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- When he was a kid, playing defense was a matter of survival for Iman Shumpert.
Shumpert, the Knicks' first-round draft pick, grew up playing basketball with his three brothers on the playgrounds of Oak Park, Ill., a western suburb of Chicago. The third of four boys, he knew if he wanted to hang with older players, he had to be able to hold his own.
"I hated to get scored on," he said Friday. "It's embarrassing to get scored on in Chicago. When people score on you, you're the weak link. If I was going to play with my brothers and play on their team in the pickup game, I couldn't get scored on. And I developed a pride for not letting people score on me."
Shumpert's defensive ability is one of the things that helped convince the Knicks to bypass Florida State forward Chris Singleton and take Georgia Tech guard Shumpert with the No. 17 pick in Thursday night's draft. Shumpert, who flew from his home in Chicago to New York and was at the Knicks' practice facility Friday, clearly was thrilled that they did. "I'm all smiles," he said. "This can't be life. This can't be real."
Shumpert, who grew up cheering for the Bulls, had a good idea that the Knicks were interested in him after he worked out for them in early June. The Knicks understandably had been concerned about Shumpert's perimeter shooting -- in three years at Georgia Tech, he shot 27 percent from three-point range -- but were impressed enough by what they saw in the workout to put him high on their wish list.
Shumpert said he didn't tell anyone outside of his family how well things went for him in that workout because he was afraid it might not work out.
"I wanted New York to pick me,'' Shumpert said, positively beaming. "I wanted New York to take me at 17. I didn't want to tell anybody. I didn't want it not to happen. I was quiet about it, but I wanted to come here.''
Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni loves the 6-6 guard's versatility. He envisions him being able to play point guard alongside Landry Fields, shooting guard alongside Chauncey Billups or Toney Douglas, or in a three-guard tandem when Carmelo Anthony rests.
"His best qualities are his defense and his athleticism," D'Antoni said. "But there's a lot of great things about him. His workout was one of the best we've ever had here."
The Knicks, who gave up 107 points a game this past season, certainly can use some help on defense. And Shumpert clearly is thrilled to be in a position to help them any way he can.
Said Shumpert: "It's the coach, the history, the city, being able to learn from all these veteran guys. This kind of opportunity doesn't come every day."
