Willy Hernangomez wasn’t part of those summer pickup games involving his old teammate Carmelo Anthony and other NBA stars. But the second-year center picked up some valuable tips battling a couple of savvy star big men during the offseason.
Playing for Spain in the European Championships, Hernangomez practiced with Pau and Marc Gasol every day. The Gasol brothers have nine All-Star appearances between them. They helped get Hernangomez prepared for his second NBA season, when he’s expected to play a larger role for the Knicks, who faced the Nets in a preseason game Sunday night.
“Being in EuroBasket, being with the Gasol brothers every day, I think is something special,” said Hernangomez, who started and led the Knicks with 17 points and 12 rebounds in a loss at the Barclays Center.