KNICK NOTES
It is unclear if Hornets guard David Wesley was aware he was driving with a suspended license Wednesday when he supposedly was drag racing Porsches with teammate Bobby Phills.
Phills lost control of his car, said to be going 75 mph, and died on impact when he crashed into another vehicle.
Wesley, who wept during a pregame moment of silence last night, did not speak to reporters before or after the game. He had a horrible shooting night, going 2-for-11 — 1 of 7 from 3-point land — for six points. He did have nine assists.
No charges have been filed against Wesley. He could face charges of “spontaneous racing” which carries a light maximum of a one-to-two week jail sentence.
Charlotte police have said the investigation could last another few days.
Wesley’s license was suspended indefinitely in August for failing to comply with the terms of a ticket he received nearly a year ago, according to the North Carolina DMV.
“Dave’s a pro,” Hornets coach Paul Silas said. “This is what he’s good at. His playing will help relieve some of the grief he’s feeling and the hurt, to go out and let it all hang out.”
Wesley has yet to comment publicly aside from his brief and tearful euology at Friday’s memorial service in Charlotte when he called Phills “my partner in crime.”
All in all, it was a bizarre, emotional evening. During his pregame conference with reporters, tears welled up in Jeff Van Gundy‘s eyes and he spoke in a choked-up voice reflecting on another tragedy that occurred when he was a Providence College assistant under Rick Pitino in 1987.
That year, Pitino’s 6-month-old son died of kidney failure. In a choked voice, Van Gundy said “Burying a child, that’s something that was … we were on the bus coming back from the Big East Tournament and state trooper pulled us over to tell [Pitino]. You don’t forget those things.”
Van Gundy then left the room to funereal silence.