New York Knicks point guard Dennis Smith Jr. says head coach David Fizdale has challenged him to become a better on-court leader.
On Wednesday against the Phoenix Suns, the Knicks were outscored 32-17 in the third quarter and wound up losing the game by a final score of 107-96. Fizdale questioned the team’s heart after the game.
Smith Jr. says he has to do a better job of keeping the spirits of his teammates high at all times.
“I’ve got to do a better job of making sure everybody stays up out there,” Smith said, via Marc Berman of the New York Post. “It’s something Fiz is challenging me to do — make sure everyone else is trying to match the [other] team’s intensity, if not beat it.”
The Knicks acquired Dennis Smith Jr. from the Dallas Mavericks in the Kristaps Porzingis trade. The franchise is hoping the explosive point guard will be the team's floor general for the next decade.
In 14 games with the Knicks, Smith Jr. is averaging 15.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 6.4 assists per contest while shooting 42.4 percent from the field.
New York is 13-52 on the season. In a rebuild year, Fizdale is trying to make sure his players build good habits.
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