When the Knicks used most of their taxpayer mid-level exception to sign Guerschon Yabusele over the summer, they envisioned him being a key member of the rotation in 2025/26. It hasn’t worked out that way this fall, with the French power forward largely struggling in his limited minutes, writes Kristian Winfield of The New York Daily News.
Yabusele isn’t solely to blame for his sluggish start, according to head coach Mike Brown.
“It’s the circumstance sometimes,” Brown said. “I put him in, take him out. It’s a little hard to get a rhythm doing that. I’ve got to take some blame in that as well. And I think over time, because he’s a really good basketball player, he’ll show it. He needs some minutes to show it, and I don’t know if those are always there for him.”
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- After a five-game winning streak, the Knicks were pummeled by Orlando on Wednesday. More importantly, Jalen Brunson injured his right ankle late in the lopsided defeat, though it doesn’t sound like it will be a long-term issue. Key wings Mikal Bridges (one minute) and Josh Hart (zero) were benched by Brown for nearly the entire fourth quarter, notes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. Bridges had no explanation for the decision. “I’m not sure,” said Bridges, who scored a season-low six points on 3-of-9 shooting. Hart said the team will be looking to bounce back on Friday against Miami, Bondy writes. “I don’t think we responded properly [to Orlando’s physicality],” Hart said. “So, learned a lesson. We have a tough, physical opponent on Friday. And we got to respond.”
- While the playing time and workload of Mitchell Robinson continue to be carefully monitored by the team’s medical staff, Brown pushed back on the suggestion that the 27-old center would continue to frequently sit out games throughout the season, per Winfield. Brown made the comments after Tuesday’s win over Memphis, when Robinson was inactive for the front end of a back-to-back. “Well, I’m not sure about that,” Brown said. “We just gotta take that thing one game at a time and follow the lead of our medical people in terms of what the process is gonna be.”
- Brown said Tuesday that OG Anunoby deserves to be an All-Star for the first time, as Peter Sblendorio of The New York Daily News relays. Brown credited the 28-year-old forward’s work ethic and said he has improved in multiple facets of the game while still getting used to the new system. “Not only is he an All-Star, he’s an All-Defensive performer,” Brown said. “In my opinion, he should have an opportunity, amongst others in our group, to fight for Defensive Player of the Year in the league.”
So Yabu is a good basketball player, but needs minutes to show it, which aren’t always there? That sounds like a Mike Brown issue, easily fixable by giving the dude minutes.
This team is so soft.
Druuu:
Not as soft as your comments.
Both the current Knicks roster and my comments are confirmed soft.
Druuu:
Which is softer though? And by what measure will you determine this?
Which is more important? The Knicks being soft ,or a random commenter being soft?
Take your time.
GhostofThomasHamilton:
Well, being that the Knicks aren’t actually soft… I’ll go with the random commenter.
English is a puzzling language, but Druuu’s comments are not “random” in any sense. The Knicks have some bangers, Hart, Anunoby. They are 7-4. I’d say that’s a good start.
Yabu had an entire pre-season (and more than enough minutes in the regular season) to earn more minutes then he’s gotten. From what I watched, I’m not surprised he hasn’t earned them. He showed up fat, and he didn’t have much interest in playing the interior defense like a big man. It’s not fatal, he’ll have time. But it’s up to him to prove to Brown he can help the team win, not on Brown to give him minutes earned by others in the hope it will motivate him.
Yabusele has been disappointing so far. And Brown should take responsibility for it too. Cause he is not playing him consistently. He acts like he doesn’t know his game. Still early but bro, Yabu we need you man. Come on now.
Best thing we can do with Mitch. Is move him for real 4s. I want Issac or Wolf or both. Mitch is due a new deal. Knicks can’t afford to keep him. He’s from NO. I would love to look into Looney and Bey.
Then I start Looney with Towns. I would start Issac with Towns too.
Bey and Looney would be major.
Get well Jalen. Take your time getting right. They say its a grade one sprain. Whatever that means. Figure two wks. Duece time to remind everyone you were drafted as a PG. we need you. Kolek wake TF up.
link to espn.com