New York Knicks swingman Iman Shumpert played 23 minutes against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday and failed to record a single point, assist or rebound. The Knicks were -22 with him on the floor. Shumpert's name has been thrown around in trade rumors over the past couple of weeks, but he said postgame that those rumors are not affecting him, via Newsday's Al Iannazzone:
Iman Shumpert claims trade rumors aren’t bothering him
Iman Shumpert had perhaps the worst performance of the season on Monday, but declined to attribute it to trade rumors.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Shumpert was asked if the trade talk involving him is having an impact on his game. "I don't think so," he said. "We're just losing. Losing affects everybody."
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New York head coach Mike Woodson acknowledged that something wasn't right with Shumpert, though, via Iannazzone:
“Iman didn’t have much in his tank in the first quarter,” Mike Woodson said. “He was just out there. I’ll sit and talk with Iman [Tuesday] to kind of see where his head is at.”
Only one other player, the Miami Heat's Shane Battier, has played more than 20 minutes in a game this season without a point, rebound or assist, per Basketball-Reference. That happened in a Miami win, though.
The Knicks fell behind by 22 points in the first half in Portland. They managed to make a run but ended up losing 102-91, their sixth loss in a row. They are 3-10 on the season, including a 1-6 record at home. Next up are difficult road games against the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets
Shumpert is averaging 7.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game this year. He is shooting 40 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from behind the three-point line.
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