The Knicks have moved on with Noah Vonleh becoming a reliable defensive big man, but coach David Fizdale wanted center Kyle O’Quinn back as “a mentor.’’
Part of O’Quinn wanted to be back, too. In July, O’Quinn, a Queens product, left the Knicks to sign a one-year, $4.45 million deal with the Pacers after opting out of his contract. It wasn’t an easy choice.
“You talk to your agent, talk to people who help you, but you have to make it,’’ O’Quinn said. “It’s the biggest decision I’ve ever made as far as making a choice in my career. I slept on it, prayed on it. I made the decision and I’m sticking with it. It’s no secret I would’ve loved to play for Fizdale or be here. It’s tougher than telling a girl you’re moving on.’’
As O’Quinn mingled with family members 90 minutes before tipoff, there could be part of him that regrets leaving his hometown and opting out of his final year.
O’Quinn was likely expecting a long-term deal, but got just a $200,000 raise and he’s in and out of the Pacers’ rotation with second-year man T.J. Leaf ahead of him.
After the signing, O’Quinn was quoted saying he “wanted to be a part of something bigger than next year’s draft. I just felt like at this point, I owed it to myself.”
O’Quinn said the remark was made with no malice, though Knicks president Steve Mills, according to a source, called the ex-Knick to find out if he was upset.
“It was 100 percent wrong,’’ O’Quinn said. “It was a 30-minute thing and they picked up the one thing like you do. It was tough. I wrote on my Instagram and let these guys know it wasn’t anything personal. They knew it. I simply made a comment in a long conversation and they took it and ran with it. Every organization. I didn’t mean anything personal.”
Despite any playing-time issues, O’Quinn likely will be in the playoffs after a career of losing seasons. The Pacers are off to a 4-3 start.
“It’s cool, I like the organization, first class,’’ O’Quinn said. “All basketball. You can’t compare the cities. You’re talking the greatest city in the world versus a homegrown basketball city. But the organization is great. I’m 28 years old. I want to transition in a few years where I can be that mentor and role model for guys.”
Popular in the Knicks’ locker room, O’Quinn said hello to all his former teammates and even worked out with the Knicks’ training staff before the game. O’Quinn attended Fizdale’s introductory press conference in May, still hoping he would be back.
“Absolutely,’’ Fizdale said when asked if he had wished to see O’Quinn return. “Kyle’s first class. He was one of the veterans we saw as a guy who can mentor. At same time I understand it. I get it. This is a league you put yourself in the best position. I have a lot of respect for Kyle.”
The Knicks’ locker room is a lot quieter and not as funny minus O’Quinn. But Vonleh, a 2014 lottery pick, has played well and was promoted to the starting lineup two games ago. He’s the only player in the league averaging at least 7.6 points and 8.3 rebounds and playing fewer than 20 minutes. Vonleh, in 19.4 minutes per night, is also shooting 54.5 percent with 1.9 assists and defending with more athleticism than O’Quinn could provide.
“I’m very happy with his desire to want to defend,’’ Fizdale said of Vonleh. “That’s more important than anything, getting a guy who wants to do it first. He takes a lot of pride in getting stops.’’
One of O’Quinn’s best friends on the Knicks was Kristaps Porzingis. O’Quinn isn’t worried Porzingis will be a “superstar’’ when he returns from his ACL injury.
“It couldn’t have happened to a better person,’’ O’Quinn said. “It sounds crazy, but he’s competitor, hard worker and he’ll be back. Having tasted being an All-Star, I’m sure he wants to get into that superstar spot, which I always thought he’d be. I talked to him earlier and he’s in good spirits. He’s just ready to go back on the court and show everybody his work.’’
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