Quickley Holds Back Tears, Nothing Else, in Return to MSG

While fellow Knick-turned-Raptor RJ Barrett holds a polarizing reputation among the Manhattan faithful, Quickley's departure when unanimously mourned when the Knicks traded him to Toronto for the three-man package headlined by OG Anunoby. Moving with Quickley were about 15 points a night off the bench as the first-round pick from the 2020 draft established himself as one of the most consistent bench contributors in Knicks history.

With his active rebuild providing consequence-free settings, Toronto was perhaps one of the best places to move Quickley, who has had a chance to play in an NBA team's starting five. Through his first 10 games, Quickley is averaging 18 points and hitting over 45 percent of his three-point tries, both of which would stand as career-bests.

New York had a prime opportunity to secure Quickley's services for both the rest of the year and beyond but could not agree on a long-term contract extension before this season tipped off. Quickley rejected the idea of "betting on himself," claiming that divine intervention partly played a role in moving on from New York.

"I didn't bet on myself. That's what God told me to," Quickley said in another NYB video. "I prayed about it and that's what God told me to do. All my decisions, that's how I make all of my decisions. I just didn't decide 'myself, it was much more than just myself but I'm just letting God lead and guide me. I think that's been my mantra my whole life as far my basketball career, and I'll continue to do that."

A new opportunity won't stop Quickley from being nostalgic: another video from New York Basketball had Quickley referring to both Julius Randle and head coach Tom Thibodeau as "my guys" while one from SNY had him getting downright parental with Isaiah Hartenstein.

"My son! I miss my son, man," Quickley said of the Knicks' current primary center. "He's like an abandoned child, I'm going to have to check up on my guy."

Knicks fans undoubtedly miss Quickley as well: since his departure, the second unit has struggled to the tune of a 48.7 offensive rating, the third-worst in the Association since Jan. 1. Quickley previously offered his gratitude and appreciation for New York in an open letter on Derek Jeter's site "The Players' Tribune" and reiterated his excitement for Saturday as the hours dwindle down.

"(I have) nothing but good memories,” Quickley said, per Robert Sanchez of SNY. “When people show you respect and treat you right, you have to say thank you and say you appreciate them.”