Rough and Rugged Turiaf Ready To Suit Up For Knicks
Jul 21 2010 2:45PM
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The personable Ronny Turiaf figures to have a big impact on the new look Knicks.
Angela Cranford/MSG Photos
It’s difficult enough hearing that your job has relocated you across the country. Imagine receiving the news when you’re halfway around the world and then being asked to come back as soon as possible.
Well, that’s exactly what happened to Ronny Turiaf last week when the former Golden State Warriors center was traded to the New York Knicks in a four-player deal.
“I was in the middle of Africa with one of my best friends, (Charlotte Bobcats forward) Boris Diaw,” Turiaf said at his introductory press conference. “I was doing the Boris Diaw basketball camp over there and I got a phone call telling me that I had to go to the airport. I had to drive seven hours to get to the airport and then take a flight for nine hours to get to New York.”
It was a very long trip for Turiaf to get to his new home all the way from Senegal, but the outgoing big man was too excited to be tired. And the previously undersized Knicks are excited to have the 6-foot-10 veteran on board as they are poised to turn things around and snap a long playoff drought.
Turiaf, who has career averages of 5.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks, is known for his energy, interior defense and high basketball IQ.
“I know I can do stuff on the basketball court that can definitely help my teammates,” the fifth-year player said. “And I know that’s one of the reasons why I’m here speaking to you guys (media). That’s the reason why Coach (Mike) D’Antoni and Mr. (Donnie) Walsh are very excited to have me here.”
Turiaf is certainly a player who can make everyone’s life easier on the basketball court. But perhaps no one will benefit more by playing with him than Amar’e Stoudemire, the superstar power forward the Knicks acquired during the first week of free agency.
“I can say I’m very happy to play with him, not against him now,” Turiaf said. “I can spread the floor for him down low and in the high post, because I know that he likes those isolation situations and I can take the big guy. All he’ll have to worry about is just getting some rebounds and just go out there and score points. With teams you have to have guys who can complement each other.”
If the Knicks decide to go with a traditional center in the starting lineup, Turiaf will be competing for the starting spot with Eddy Curry, rookie Jerome Jordan and Timofey Mozgov, the 7-foot-1 Russian import who was officially signed a couple days after the Knicks announced their trade with the Warriors.
Well, that’s exactly what happened to Ronny Turiaf last week when the former Golden State Warriors center was traded to the New York Knicks in a four-player deal.
“I was in the middle of Africa with one of my best friends, (Charlotte Bobcats forward) Boris Diaw,” Turiaf said at his introductory press conference. “I was doing the Boris Diaw basketball camp over there and I got a phone call telling me that I had to go to the airport. I had to drive seven hours to get to the airport and then take a flight for nine hours to get to New York.”
It was a very long trip for Turiaf to get to his new home all the way from Senegal, but the outgoing big man was too excited to be tired. And the previously undersized Knicks are excited to have the 6-foot-10 veteran on board as they are poised to turn things around and snap a long playoff drought.
Turiaf, who has career averages of 5.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks, is known for his energy, interior defense and high basketball IQ.
“I know I can do stuff on the basketball court that can definitely help my teammates,” the fifth-year player said. “And I know that’s one of the reasons why I’m here speaking to you guys (media). That’s the reason why Coach (Mike) D’Antoni and Mr. (Donnie) Walsh are very excited to have me here.”
Turiaf is certainly a player who can make everyone’s life easier on the basketball court. But perhaps no one will benefit more by playing with him than Amar’e Stoudemire, the superstar power forward the Knicks acquired during the first week of free agency.
“I can say I’m very happy to play with him, not against him now,” Turiaf said. “I can spread the floor for him down low and in the high post, because I know that he likes those isolation situations and I can take the big guy. All he’ll have to worry about is just getting some rebounds and just go out there and score points. With teams you have to have guys who can complement each other.”
If the Knicks decide to go with a traditional center in the starting lineup, Turiaf will be competing for the starting spot with Eddy Curry, rookie Jerome Jordan and Timofey Mozgov, the 7-foot-1 Russian import who was officially signed a couple days after the Knicks announced their trade with the Warriors.
