Since his rookie season in 2009, Toney Douglas has displayed a toughness, fearlessness and blue-collar approach to his work that the New York Knicks’ fan base has passionately embraced.
Although Douglas was a first-round pick, drafted 29th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers and subsequently traded to the Knicks, he has been perceived as an overachiever-a young man whose success is more a product of hard work, will and determination than extraordinary physical ability. But in this lockout-shortened season, only 10 games deep for the Knicks, who were 5-4 before hosting the Philadelphia 76ers at the Garden last night (Wednesday), Douglas has experienced the vacillating nature of impatient fans.
The adulation the 25-year-old guard had become accustomed to has degenerated to heckling, as he has struggled to lift his production on a Knicks team still seeking to establish its identity. Surgery on his right shoulder several months ago and an abbreviated training camp, limiting the 6-foot-2 Douglas’ time to adequately prepare for the start of the season, has hampered his effectiveness. Douglas began the season as the Knicks’ starting point guard but was replaced last week in the first five by rookie Iman Shumpert, whose promising opening to his career has elevated him in the fan-favorite pecking order.
Against the Bobcats, the Garden crowd booed Douglas while approvingly chanting the 6-foot-5 Shumpert’s name. Douglas went into the 76ers matchup averaging only 10 points and 3.5 assists in 27 minutes.
“I don’t like to makes excuses,” said the affable Florida State alumnus. “That’s just the type of person I am…[I have to be] ready and that’s how I have to approach it. I don’t fight it. I just gotta keep going day by day and stay on top of everything and see how it plays out.”
Douglas reluctantly admitted his shoulder has been somewhat of a hindrance. “Of course it’s been a big adjustment,” he said of playing through the discomfort. “But hey, I’m out there on the floor and I’m going to bust my butt no matter what. I played through almost the whole season last year with it…If I can be out there on the court, I’m going to be out there.”
