Knicks’ Villanova trio embracing rare starting lineup reunion
NY Post
The three of them were NCAA champions together at Villanova, but the trio of former Wildcats appreciate how rare it is that they likely will be sharing a starting lineup with the Knicks for as long as Julius Randle is sidelined.
Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo have been joined as starters by Josh Hart over the past two games, blowout victories over the Hornets and the Jazz that have vaulted the Knicks into the lofty third playoff position in the Eastern Conference entering Thursday’s home game against the Pacers.
The significance and rarity of starting together in both college and the pros certainly is not lost on the longtime trio.
“Yeah, it is. I’m not gonna lie,” said Brunson, who is fully expected to be named an All-Star for the first time in his career Thursday night. “Every now and then I’ll think about all of us, like, back at school, competing in practice, getting after it, having little mini fights back then. And then to see where we are now, it’s really special.
“So, yeah, it’s really cool to see. You don’t really see it too often, if ever. To hear the starting lineup saying ‘from Villanova, from Villanova, from Villanova,’ that’s pretty cool.”
There may be others, but The Post found at least one similar example: the 1997-98 Celtics had Antoine Walker, Walter McCarty and Ron Mercer each start at least 62 games under their former college coach Rick Pitino after they also were teammates at Kentucky.
Tyrod Taylor knows the perils of being a dual-threat quarterback, and he knows what it’s like for Jaxson Dart to be learning when to take a hit and when to avoid one.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s days in Milwaukee may be numbered.
Brian Daboll tried in his own way to get Abdul Carter on the right path.
Elden Campbell, a 15-year NBA veteran who spent the majority of his career playing with his hometown Los Angeles Lakers, has died, according to the Los Angeles Times. He was 57.
Shedeur Sanders has another potential challenger with the Browns.
The offseason signing of Vladislav Gavrikov became exponentially more important for the Rangers when Adam Fox was ruled out for the foreseeable future.
Suddenly, someone had hit a rewind button and everyone had been transported back seven months. It was early spring instead of late fall, it was broiling hot outside the arena walls and not freezing cold. Everyone was back at TD Garden. There were 19,156 frenzied fans on their feet begging for blood, poised for the kill.
After leaving practice early on Monday to be evaluated for a lower-body injury, Adam Edstrom did not suit up Tuesday night against the Stars.
It’s not you, it’s me.
Not everyone wants to wake up in the city that never sleeps.
BOSTON — Despite no traction on a contract extension, Karl-Anthony Towns said his relationship with the Knicks front office remains strong and he hopes to continue his career with the team.
The Jets won a game on Sunday, an entertaining 27-24 victory over the Falcons on a 56-yard walk-off field goal by 41-year-old kicker Nick Folk.
Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss said he was just doing his job after a hard hit on Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart sparked tension in Monday’s game at Gillette Stadium.