Shane Larkin says Knicks triangle wasn't a good fit for him

After struggling last season with the Knicks, Shane Larkin is hoping a different system and borough will rejuvenate a career that he believes was stalled by Phil Jackson’s triangle.

“(The triangle) just wasn’t the best fit for me,” Larkin said. “It’s a good system but I’m a pick-and-roll point guard. That’s how I got in the NBA, playing pick-and-roll in college. That’s how I got here and now being back in a system where I can play the pick-and-roll and just getting in the lane, create for others, shoot my floater, and do a bunch of other things.”

Larkin was introduced Thursday as Brooklyn’s new point guard, signing a two-year, $3 million deal to play alongside Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young. Where he fits in the rotation is still up in the air, considering the Nets have four point guards on the roster and it’s not clear who will stick around before training camp.

Larkin, 22, who is on his third NBA team in three seasons, acknowledged that he’s motivated to avoid a journeyman’s career, that he wants to stick around in Brooklyn beyond his contract. The former 18th overall pick out of the University of Miami averaged 6.2 points and three assists last season, leading the 17-win Knicks in minutes played.

“My rookie year (in Dallas), coming off an injury, I broke my ankle, miss the first 20 games. Last year, being in a system where it wasn’t really a fit,” said the son of MLB Hall of Famer Barry Larkin. “I feel like this year I can really go out there and be in the pick-and-roll, be in my comfort zone.

“I’m not talking bad about (the triangle),” Larkin clarified, “I just want to get that out there. It’s a great offense. I wish them nothing but the best.”

The three other point guards on Brooklyn’s roster have considerable more experience than Larkin – Deron Williams, Jarrett Jack and Steve Blake. But Williams and Jack are on the trading block as GM Billy King attempts to cut salary.

A source told the Daily News that the Nets are still deciding whether to keep Steve Blake, who was acquired in a trade last month with Portland and is a buyout candidate.

“I know we have a lot of guys at the point guard position. That’ll be resolved hopefully in the next month, eliminate, so hopefully we won’t have as many going to camp,” King said.

Larkin isn’t going anywhere.

“The one thing he’s still young. He came out (of college) early,” King said. “And we just said we want to get back to how you played in Miami – allowing you to be a leader on the floor, run the pick-and-roll, get up and down the court. That was the pitch to him.”

The Knicks did not try to re-sign Larkin, who was acquired from the Mavericks before last season.

“I talked to Billy (King) at 12 midnight, the first minute we could talk,” Larkin said. “I knew they had strong interest. I had some other teams that called but he was the only other GM that called at that time of night and express that type of interest. So just for him to do that showed me that they wanted me here. That was enough for me.” 


(nydailynews.com)