Iman Shumpert had some negative comments about his time with the Knicks prior to being traded in 2015.
During the 2014-15 season, the Knicks traded Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith to the Cavaliers, a trade that helped the Cavs win their first title in franchise history.
Recently, Shumpert looked back on his mid-season trade from New York to Cleveland. In an interview with Hoopshype, Shumpert did a bit of reminiscing:
"“I was hurt when I got traded, so it would’ve been cool for me if I had at least gotten to play my last games with them. I felt bitter that I had to leave on such a bad note.”"
Furthermore, he went from a team who had 17 wins to a second-place team in the Eastern Conference. Shumpert and Smith have now experienced two straight trips to the NBA Finals and have one ring to prove it.
New York received Lou Amundson, Alex Kirk, Lance Thomas and a 2019 second-round pick for Shumpert and Smith.
Meanwhile in the Big Apple, the Knicks are on their way to missing the playoffs for a fourth-straight season. In hindsight, Shumpert realizes the bigger picture.
“Now I come here and I’m playing well and the energy is great,” Shumpert said. “I just felt like they kind of grabbed me out of hell.”
Like Shumpert, Smith felt resentment toward New York. Both players wanted to turn the season around. However, the Knicks didn’t give Shumpert or Smith a chance to do so.
On the other hand, Shumpert isn’t experiencing career highs but is filling a more important role than ever. Shumpert is averaging 7.8 points in 62 games played. He’s shooting nearly 39 percent from beyond the arc, the second highest total in his career.
Shumpert and the Cavaliers are the favorite to head to the finals for the third straight finals.