WATCH: Knicks’ Quentin Grimes top plays from Saturday’s win over Cleveland

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The New York Knicks are close to wrapping up the Summer League, with one more game against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday evening.

The team has seen ups and downs over the past few games, but the development witnessed by rookie guards Miles McBride and Quentin Grimes has stood out.

McBride has made a surprising impact, providing solid defense as a sleight of hand specialist and Grimes providing adequate shooting from three. In the victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday evening, Grimes had his best performance this summer.

The Houston stand-out posted 28 points, shooting 8-of-20 from the field and 6-of-14 from three-point range. He also connected on 6-of-7 free throw attempts, collecting six rebounds and four assists.

Grimes showed off his athleticism and shooting prowess throughout the contest, giving the Knicks a good base to work off of as they look forward to the start of the 2021-22 season.

Grimes’s standout plays in the victory:

Grimes was considered the second-tier option after Chris Duarte, who the Knicks desperately tried to trade up for. Of course, the comparisons will be frequent for the rookie, but Grimes is proving to be a solid addition who can contribute in multiple ways. As a primary 3-and-D player, Quentin is trying to break that mold and offer a bit more athleticism and aggression in the paint.

The Houston product has leaned on the shoulders of two former NBA stars, Allan Houston and Penny Hardaway.

“Allan Houston told me to keep shooting. Everything will gonna follow. Penny (Hardaway) was texting me: ‘everything will gonna follow. Shoot is what you do.’ That’s why I came out a little bit more aggressive today at all times,” Grimes said.

The more shots Grimes puts up, the better he’s going to look and the more comfort he’s going to feel. Expanding his sample size is the only way to take a positive step forward, and during meaningless games, it is the best time to work out his kinks and develop chemistry with his teammates. Being a bit possessive of the ball and creating shots is how he can adapt to the NBA faster, which will allow him to make an impact on the floor when called upon by head coach Tom Thibodeau.

So far, during Summer League play, Grimes is averaging 33.7 minutes, 13.2 points, 36.7% shooting from the field, and 38.1% from range. He’s also contributing 6.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. While he would prefer to have a bit more efficiency from mid-range and driving to the hoop, he has plenty of time to develop and prepare for the start of the regular season.

Luckily, New York went out and signed sharpshooter Evan Fournier, previously with the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics. Having an established veteran at the SG/SF position should give Grimes the cushion necessary to take a more strategized approach toward his development and growth. Leaning on Fournier as a mentor will also be extremely beneficial, as he possesses the ability to create shots for himself and spread the floor for opposing defenses.