Published Jan 26, 2018
Michigan Basketball: NBA Wolverines — Trey Burke Picking It Up, More
Chris Balas  •  Maize&BlueReview
Senior Editor

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Former Michigan point guard Trey Burke notched a double-double for the New York Knicks Thursday night and is tearing it up.

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Burke notched 18 points with 11 assists and no turnovers, shot 8-of-12 and hit a buzzer-beater to end the third quarter on a wicked, stepback jump shot in a 130-118 loss to Denver.

“Coach told me to push the pace, penetrate, make plays, take what the defense gives me,” Burke said of head coach Jeff Hornacek. “He knows naturally I’m a scoring point guard. He tells me to be myself. I just took what they gave me tonight.”

Of course, Burke’s promotion from Westchester of the G-League reunites him with Tim Hardaway Jr. in the Big Apple. Both had big games to lead the New York Knicks past Burke’s former team, the Utah Jazz, Jan. 19 after Burke joined the squad from Westchester of the G-League.

Burke scored seven points in 15 minutes, playing the final nine minutes of the game against the Jazz Jan. 19. He’s averaging 7.6 points and 4.0 assists in five games (12.2 minutes per contest).

“I wanted to redefine myself,’’ Burke told the Post of joining Westchester. “I didn’t want to go into a situation like last year in Washington. People don’t think it made sense. I wanted to show what I can do on a consistent basis night in and night out with consistent minutes.

“Now that I’m here with the Knicks, it’s another process — me having to reprove myself to get back on the court. I’m trying to learn as quick as possible. I know what I’m capable of doing, and they know as well — which is why they called me up.”

Hardaway was happy to have his former teammate back with him.

“All I know is he’s definitely making the most of his opportunity right now,’’ Hardaway said. “In Utah he showed it on a nationally televised game. It was great to see him against his former team that drafted him and put a performance like he did and how poised he was, how aggressive he was defensively, offensively, making the right plays. He’s just got to continue to do that.”

Burke said Hardaway was a big reason he joined the Knicks’ training camp in the final days during the fall.

“I can just read him on the floor anywhere, especially when he’s coming downhill,’’ Hardaway said. “Yeah, it was immediate. I kind of know his game so well. Even when I wasn’t playing with him the past couple of years, I definitely watched him in Utah and Washington. I still know what he can do on the court, and what he’s able to do both offensively and defensively.

“It felt like old times.”

How other former Wolverines fared in the last week:

Jamal Crawford, SF, Minnesota Timberwolves: Averaging 9.9 points, 2.5 assists and 1.1 rebounds per game for 31-20 Minnesota, shooting 42.1 percent and 33.5 from long range in 19.5 minutes per game … Scored 40 points total in his last two games, 19 in a 123-114 loss at Portland and 21 in a 126-113 loss at Golden State … Added five assists in each game.


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Tim Hardaway Jr., SF, New York Knicks: Averaging 18 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists for 20-25 New York, shooting 42.6 percent from the floor and 31.6 percent from three-point range … Had been out since Dec. 3 with a stress injury in his lower left leg but returned Jan. 12 and scored 16 points, making 4-of-8 triples, in a 118-108 loss at Minnesota … Put up 25 points in a 123-118 loss to New Orleans Jan. 14 … Scored 16 more in a 105-99 loss at Memphis Jan. 17, adding four rebounds.



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Caris LeVert, SG, Brooklyn Nets: Averaging 11.9 points, 4.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game for the 18-30 Nets, shooting 42.4 percent from the floor and 33.7 percent from three-point range in 46 games … He’s also averaging 1.2 steals per game … LeVert scored 12 points in a 101-95 win over Miami Jan. 19 and nine in a 101-100 win at Detroit Jan. 21.

Glenn Robinson III, SF, Indiana Pacers: Has missed every game for 26-22 Indiana after having ankle surgery stemming from an injury suffered during a preseason scrimmage and returned to practice Jan. 7 … Expected to miss several more games and ease back into the lineup.

Nik Stauskas, SG, Brooklyn Nets: Traded from Philadelphia Dec. 6 … Was out Nov. 7 for several weeks with an ankle injury for 18-30 Brooklyn … Has not played in the last week … Averaging 4.4 points and 1.5 rebounds per game in 12.2 minutes per contest (22 games), shooting 40.3 percent from the floor but 46.2 percent from long range.

Derrick Walton Jr., PG, Miami Heat: Has played in 14 games, signed to a two-way contract, for the 27-21 Heat … Has been back and forth with Sioux Falls of the G League … Averaging 1.8 points and 1.1 assists per game in 9.8 minutes per contest … Shooting 33.3 percent from the floor and 41.2 percent from long range … Scored three points in consecutive games Jan. 20 and 22 … Was recalled Jan. 17 from Sioux Falls, where he’s averaged 16.1 points in 11 games played.

D.J. Wilson, PF, Milwaukee Bucks: Has played in 15 games in his rookie year for the 24-22 Bucks … Played only a handful of minutes since Dec. 23, assigned to the G-League Dec. 20, but was recalled Jan. 7 and has been up and down since … Has played in six G-League games with the Wisconsin Herd and averaged 16.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.5 steals across 30.0 minutes.

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