GREENBURGH, N.Y. — The Knicks already have one player from Syracuse on their roster by the name of Carmelo Anthony, and Brandon Triche would love to add to that total.
The 6-foot-4 Triche worked out for the Knicks on Wednesday, although he is likely to go undrafted in the June 27 NBA Draft.
He will probably have to work his way onto a team through a summer league situation.
“It means a lot just to be part of any NBA workout,” Triche said after battling Murray State point guard Isaiah Canaan in the workout. “But [the] Knicks, I’m from New York, I’m from Syracuse so just for my family to be able to see me play on a regular basis is a big thing for me. But the ultimate goal was to be able to make an NBA team and put myself in that position.”
The Knicks have a need for a backup point guard now that Jason Kidd has retired, and will audition a slew of floor generals in the weeks leading up to the draft.
Triche averaged 13.6 points and 3.6 assists last season for a Syracuse team that made the Final Four. Yet he was not the best guard in his own backcourt. That honor went to sophomore Michael Carter-Williams, a projected lottery pick.
Still, Triche said his workout with the Knicks went well.
“It went pretty good actually,” he said. “I think it’s been my best workout so far. I was able to shoot the 3-point shot the best out of the four places I’ve been so just to be able to compete with some of the best guys that’s going into the draft, it’s definitely an opportunity for me to take advantage of and I think I did that today.”
Triche has now worked out at the Nets combine and with the Detroit Pistons, the Portland Trail Blazers, the Sacramento Kings and now the Knicks. He works out for the Lakers next week.
With his eyes set upon the future, Triche added, “I think I can be a better pro than a college player.”
