Galloway, a recent signing for the New York Knicks, helped the Knicks end their recent 16 game losing streak.
Two days into his second 10-day contract with the Knicks, Langston Galloway made his first NBA start. How did it go? Well, New York ended a 16-game-skid versus the New Orleans Pelicans, with Galloway pouring in 21 points (8-14 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 2-2 FT) to go along with five rebounds and three assists in 31 minutes.
The Pelicans were on the second night of a back-to-back and again without their two best players in Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday. However, having won the day before in Toronto to improve to 20-20, they were obviously hoping to move above .500 against a Knicks team that over the course of the season has become the laughing stock of the league.
Mike Sielski of the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote an excellent column on the undrafted 23-year-old former Saint Joseph’s Hawk last week, and Galloway is already starting to emerge as a fan favorite in New York. In five games, he boasts averages of 12.0 points (42.0 FG, 38.1 3Pt, 83.3 FT), 3.0 assists, 2.6 rebounds, 1.0 steal and 1.6 turnovers in 25.4 minutes per game. A 6-2 shooting guard in college, he is still adjusting to playing the point—though he did start the game alongside Jose Calderon. Still, don’t let Galloway’s size fool you—guy gets up. A couple weeks ago he threw down a huge put-back slam that went viral. Note the casual shove in the back from Jason Terry before the former Hawks takes flight. And the gusto from Galloway that followed his slam is something you just have to love.
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On MLK Day (and right in front of “Grandmama,” who was sitting court-side for the game) Galloway delivered a near-replica follow-up smash, proving it wasn’t all adrenaline, or just beginners luck versus Houston.
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It wasn’t only Galloway, though. Carmelo Anthony scored 24 points on 15 shots and grabbed nine rebounds, Amare Stoudemire and Tim Hardway, Jr. looked good off the bench, and former Pelican Jason Smith was running the triangle offense smoothly, contributing 12 points (6-9 FG), three rebounds, six assists and two blocks in 38 minutes.
For the Pelicans, Ryan Anderson continued his struggles on the road, Tyreke Evans had 23 points on 20 shots and nine boards, but committed as many assists as turnovers (three). Omer Asik had 11 points and 17 rebounds, Eric Gordon had 20 points on 15 shot attempts and five assists to two turnovers, and Quincy Pondexter, who has looked good since arriving from Memphis, had 10 points on five shots and three rebounds in 26 minutes. For New Orleans, it was another disheartening loss in what’s been a win-loss-win-loss type of season, and after losing to the Celtics, 76ers and Knicks all in the same week, the Pelicans’ playoff dreams are quickly dying. Coach Monty Williams’ seat might be getting hot, and it’s possible he’ll be let go mid-season after spending five years in NOLA.
The Knicks season has been short of exciting moments to say the least, but Galloway has provided the diehards something fun that they can enjoy in the months leading up to lottery night. Because of his impressive play (and the fact that teams are only allowed to sign players to two 10-day contracts) it likely won’t long before New York inks him to a real deal that keeps him on the team at least through the end of the season. It’s possible the Knicks will also think about bringing up Thanasis Antetokounmpo, brother of Giannis, especially with the possibility that Melo gets shutdown after the All-Star break.
On Wednesday night the Knicks take on a Sixers team which features this year’s biggest NBA D-League star call-up in Robert Covington, who has transformed the Sixers from being unwatchable to competitive on a near-nightly basis.
It’s too early to tell whether Galloway can make a similar impact for the Knicks that Covington has made for the 76ers, but it will be fun to watch the two square off on Wednesday when Galloway visits Philadelphia, home of his former Hawks. There will likely be a large cheering section of St. Joe’s Galloway supporters as well as Knicks fans in general, who always travel well. With Tony Wroten set to see a knee specialist in California tomorrow (h/t Keith Pompey), fellow former-D League call-up Larry Drew II, who also went undrafted, figures to see some time for the Sixers on Wednesday and going forward, and it’s possible we’ll witness Galloway and Drew covering each other at some point in the contest.
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