Mario Hezonja wants to stay with Knicks: 'I'm ready to talk to Dolan'

Pending free agent will continue to play point guard final two games

4/8/2019, 6:17 PM
Apr 3, 2019; Orlando, FL, USA; New York Knicks forward Mario Hezonja (8) fist pumps after a three point basket against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports / Reinhold Matay
Apr 3, 2019; Orlando, FL, USA; New York Knicks forward Mario Hezonja (8) fist pumps after a three point basket against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports / Reinhold Matay

Mario Hezonja wants to be a Knick next year. 

The pending free agent, whom David Fizdale said will continue to play point guard the final two games, has hopes of returning with the Knicks for the 2019-20 season. 

"I'm ready to talk to [James] Dolan," he said, per Stefan Bondy of the Daily News. "If he gives me that call on July 1, we're done."

While the Knicks may be busy with a few other free agents that date, the 24-year-old is doing everything he can to leave a lasting impression as he heads into free agency. 

Hezonja has played some of the best basketball of his career the past three games, two of which the 6-8 forward has played at point guard due to the injuries at that position that have piled up for the Knicks. 

He had a triple-double in a loss against the Rockets on Friday and led the Knicks to a 113-110 victory on Sunday over the Wizards with a career-high 30 points, including six rebounds and five assists. 

While it has been just a small sample size, the former fifth overall pick of the NBA Draft hopes that teams take notice of his versatility and potential to play at point guard over the last few games. 

"Yeah, why not?" he said. "A lot of teams run the positionless basketball that we decided to do this year, so yeah why not?"

Hezonja, who has averaged nine points and 4.1 rebounds in 57 games this season, wishes he played more point guard to help some of the younger guys on the team. 

"In terms of involving them and making them better, yes," he said. "But then we have to understand if I get the ball, where is [Emmanuel] Mudiay going to be, where is Dennis [Smith Jr.] going to be? They have to play too. They're young too. 

"Mudiay is probably younger than me too. So I could've done that and maybe it would've been better for Kevin [Knox] and Mitchell [Robinson], Mitchell especially. But where would they play? Because I can play five positions on the court."

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