Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks will try and turn things around for the hapless franchise starting this season and the point guard position is something that the Zen Master is looking at closely.
While Jose Calderon is the shoo-in starter at the point, the battle for the backup spot is slowly being won by rookie Jerian Grant over last season's breakout player Langston Galloway during training camp.
"I anticipate his competing with Langston Galloway for playing time," the Knicks' president for basketball operations told ESPN, referring to this year's 19th overall pick Grant. "He knows the game and has a certain flair for it. He's quick, has 3-point range, knows how to pass, can break a defense down with his handle, knows how to get through screens and is comfortable getting people involved on offense."
Those were indeed serious praises coming from someone who had won three more championships than the number of fingers in his hands.
Jackson also said that he likes the former Notre Dame's standout's "pedigree and mentality" and that's not just because he is the nephew of his former player Horace Grant and the son of former Washington Bullet Harvey Grant.
Sports World Report noted that with Jackson's fondness of a Calderon-Grant rotation, Galloway's "future" in the team might jeopardized.
Galloway had a breakthrough season last time after the 34-year-old Spaniard suffered a strained left Achilles tendon in March. He had enough opportunities to show his wares and made the most out of it en route to averages of 11.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 32.4 minutes per night, solid numbers for an undrafted sophomore.
It would be different this season, though, as Calderon will come in healthy and revived while Grant is making a lot of progress in camp.
It was also reported that Galloway is not only looking to be included in the PG rotation but actually "fighting for a roster spot" in training camp. There were rumors that he might get traded before the February deadline if Grant will play up to expectations.