Unheralded Fields quickly making an impression
Landry Fields of the Stanford Cardinals shoots over Jerren Shipp of the Arizona State Sun Devils in the second half during the Quarterfinals of the Pac-10 Basketball Tournament at Staples Center. (March 11, 2010) Credit: Getty Images
LAS VEGAS - Landry Fields may have been the first player ever drafted by the Knicks who left the usually boisterous - and opinionated - crowd here speechless.
"You can't really blame them," said Fields, who was selected in the second round, 39th overall, in the June draft. "Stanford wasn't on TV too much and we're out here on the West Coast, so it is what it is."
Who is Landry Fields? The 6-7 swingman showed a glimpse of what he could be in the Knicks' 71-63 win over the Lakers in the NBA Summer League at Cox Pavilion. Fields had 17 points off the bench, shooting 7-for-11 from the field, and added five rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots in 23:26.
After a quiet effort in Sunday's opener, Fields was very active against the Lakers yesterday, chasing loose balls, causing turnovers and going after rebounds. He attacked the basket and showed he is very comfortable with posting up guards.
Perhaps second-guard guard Toney Douglas paid him the best compliment, one that goes beyond statistics and what the average person sees with the naked eye. It's something Douglas said he mentioned to Mike D'Antoni after the team held its first practice Friday.
"Right from the jump, he remembered everything and didn't make any mistakes," Douglas said. "He's a solid guy. He's going to be a good player."
Fields was a solid college player, but one who was under the radar. The top player on a weak Stanford team, he led the Pac-10 in scoring with 22 points per game, which was eighth in the country. Against top-25 opponents, he averaged 25 points and 12 rebounds, including 23 points and 13 boards against Kentucky.
The Knicks' first pick of the second round, Andy Rautins (1-for-6, three points), has struggled with his shot. Center Jerome Jordan, also a second-round pick who was acquired from the Bucks, had eight points, four rebounds and two blocks, with five turnovers and seven fouls (there is no foul limit in summer league play). So Fields has been the most impressive of the three second-round picks.
"He's shown that, so far, it's a good find," said assistant coach Dan D'Antoni, who's running the summer league team. "So far."
Notes & quotes: Russian center Timofey Mozgov, who has agreed to terms but whose contract has yet to be made official, attended the game. He met Patrick Ewing and the two shook hands. Mozgov will not play in the summer league . . . Ewing and former Georgetown coach John Thompson watched Ewing's son, Patrick Jr., who is playing for the Knicks. Ewing Jr. had eight points, five rebounds and four blocked shots in 20:58.
