Westchester Knicks clinch G League Winter Showcase berth
12/18/2024 06:00 AM
Chip in '23, Tourney berth—and what's to come—in '24.
The Westchester Knicks will defend their NBA G League Winter Showcase title aiming to lift the chip on back-to-back Christmas.
With a 10–4 record in the Tip-Off Tournament standings (tied for no. 1 in the East with the Capital City Go-Go) before the Dec. 19-22 tourney, and carrying a league-best six-game winning streak, the Baby Knicks will be one of the eight teams competing for the championship and a $100,000 grand prize starting Thursday.
The Knicks will get things going facing the Valley Suns in the quarterfinals on Dec. 19 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, and if they advance they will meet either the OKC Blue or the Grand Rapids Gold in the semis.
The bracket is SET for the NBA G League Winter Showcase presented by @TheGeneralAuto, tipping off on Thursday!
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) December 17, 2024
No. 1 @okcblue vs. No. 8 @NBAGrandRapids
No. 2 @iawolves vs. No. 7 @StocktonKings
No. 3 @sfskyforce vs. No. 6 @CapitalCityGoGo
No. 4 @wcknicks vs. No. 5 @GLeagueSunspic.twitter.com/n8eAhBw7Jn
The Westchester Gentlement will look to replicate last year's success when they clinched the title with a strong performance led by Jacob Toppin, who's also in this year's squad.
In addition to Toppin, the Knicks have benefitted from several other impactful players contributing to their impressive run, including veterans T.J. Warren, Matt Ryan, and Moses Brown, as well as rookies Pacome Dadiet and Tyler Kolek.
Perhaps most importantly, veteran guard Landry Shamet joined the team earlier this season to go through a rehab process following his preseason injury, and he just returned to the court debuting in Westchester a couple of days ago aiming at joining the Senior Knicks in a few days or weeks.
Rookies Pacome Dadiet and Tyler Kolek, along with sharpshooter Matt Ryan, have also made notable contributions to the team's success. Their performances have added depth to a roster that blends youth and experience. The team's success has demonstrated its readiness to compete in the high-pressure environment of the Showcase, where scouts will be evaluating talent from across the league.
The semifinals of the G League Showcase will take place on Friday, with the championship game set for Sunday evening.
The G League regular season will tip off after the Showcase with the Westchester Knicks scheduled to face the Motor City Cruise at White Plains on Dec. 27.
Let's win that championship, W-Knicks!
Tom Thibodeau commends the Westchester Knicks for winning their sixth straight game last night, shouting out Landry Shamet, TJ Warren, Tyler Kolek, and Jacob Toppin:
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 17, 2024
"I thought they played really well as a team, and I like that' pic.twitter.com/rjqtilda49
