LONDON — The Knicks were given the royal treatment befitting the Queen as they entered a gym in London’s financial district for practice Wednesday.
More than 300 European journalists crowded into the facility as if this were the NBA Finals. Instead, it was the preface to an NBA regular-season game between two bottom-dwellers. The 10-33 Knicks face the 18-26 Wizards on Thursday at O2 Arena.
Knicks general manager Scott Perry, when he worked for Orlando, attended NBA’s London 2016 showcase, when the Magic faced Toronto, and said the media throng wasn’t nearly like this.
“Most of the fans will be rooting for the Knicks,’’ one European journalist said. “They bought tickets because it’s the Knicks and they figure New York must have a very good team.’’
Not since well before Brexit. The Knicks are battling for the NBA’s worst record, are on a 2-17 free fall, and the next time they’ll be in the spotlight is during May’s draft lottery.
“It’s not surprising because they get to watch us on TV, but they don’t see NBA players every day,’’ Knicks guard Trey Burke said. “We knew it was going to be big when we got here. I don’t think anyone knew it was going to be that much media. It was fun. Practice was fun. We’re looking forward to [Thursday].”
Indeed, the trip is a nice respite from the drudgery that faces them back in the US — where they will finish out the final 38 games without being in a playoff race.
“It helps you keep things in perspective,’’ Burke said of the overseas journey. “It’s a season where it’s tough right now, a tough stretch that we’re going through. Just to be able to sit back and see everything in a different perspective, a different lens, it means a lot.”
The Knicks, in their third visit to London since 2013, have four European players, though two are not here — Kristaps Porzingis (ACL rehab) and Enes Kanter (fearful for his life because of a feud with the Turkish government).
By not flying to London, Kanter continues to garner international headlines. The latest report out of Turkey has the government branding him a terrorist and looking to extradite and arrest him. It comes in the wake of Kanter calling Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan “a lunatic.’’
Security was heightened at the complex. It took journalists more than 30 minutes to enter because of bag checks, extensive pat-downs and bomb-sniffing dogs.
Mario Hezonja, of Croatia, is here and loves the rise in interest around his home continent. Knicks-Wizards will air worldwide, including Croatia. League sources believe London — which it sees as the gateway to its European fan base — is primed for an NBA team.
“It’s amazing how the game is growing,’’ said Hezonja, who speaks five languages (Croatian, Serbian, Catalan, Spanish, English) and spoke most of them Wednesday to various reporters. “The entire world is seeing. I was 16 when I was in London for the first time — the Jordan Brand Classic. It was like, wow, all these NBA players. For some [European] kids, it’s a dream to see the NBA players and an NBA game live. Now all these cameras and everything that’s going on, it’s just amazing to present the NBA in Europe and the entire world.”
Reporters came from all across the continent. A rep from a Latvian outlet bought plane tickets months ago, thinking Porzingis would be back. A Lithuanian journalist approached team president Steve Mills, who almost never talks to the media, asking about ex-Knick Mindaugas Kuzminskas.
Thursday’s winner just may be the team that offsets jet lag. Coach David Fizdale’s plan of team yoga Tuesday morning after Monday night’s red-eye worked. The Wizards wanted to get a jump on the Knicks and fly Sunday night, but their plans were foiled by a snowstorm.
“I feel good but I followed orders,’’ Fizdale said. “I listened to everything [the trainers] said. We kept them up [Tuesday], got them right into yoga and tried to keep them active as long as we possibly could. They seemed OK at breakfast [Wednesday] morning like they got rest.’’
Burke was unable to follow the plan.
“I went in the room and went to sleep,’’ Burke said. “They told us to stay up. I’m sure a lot of us did. I think we all felt a little sluggish when practice started, but we felt good.“I think it’s definitely an experience we all are taking in. I’ve been out of the country a few times but those were in the offseason. To be able to come here during the season, it’s an experience of a lifetime.”
Fizdale attempted to explain the Knicks’ plan to Europe’s ears.
“We just want to be able to evaluate that we got better,’’ he said on what he is getting out of this wrecked season. “We want to be able to look at that group and say, OK, who can move forward with us and who can really help us move to our ultimate goal of a championship?”