Miles McBride

Knicks Notes: Robinson, Hart, Kolek, Clarkson, Bench

December 26th, 2025 at 3:02pm CST by Eli Cohen

Mitchell Robinson is something of an oddity for the Knicks: a center who can change the offense without scoring a point, writes James L. Edwards III for The Athletic.

Despite opposing teams knowing exactly what Robinson wants to do offensively, he has still found ways to win games for the Knicks in the regular season and playoffs by earning them extra possessions on the offensive glass. Edwards speculates that Robinson’s historic rebounding ability could make him the No. 3 priority on opponent scouting reports, behind only stars Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.

All of that is why Edwards believes that, even with Robinson headed for unrestricted free agency in 2026, the team shouldn’t even consider moving him this season. His ability to give the team additional offensive chances, whether alongside Towns or once the All-NBA center heads to the bench, is too valuable to the Knicks’ championship aspirations this season.

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Josh Hart is out for Saturday’s matchup against the Hawks, writes Stefan Bondy of the New York Post (Twitter link). Hart left the Knicks’ Christmas Day win over the Cavaliers early in the fourth quarter after stepping on Dean Wade‘s foot and didn’t return. Miles McBride, who has missed the last seven games with an ankle sprain, is listed as questionable.
Tyler Kolek had another statement performance for the Knicks on Christmas Day, Bondy writes. Kolek finished the night with 16 points — 11 in the fourth quarter — and nine assists, as well as a critical block on Donovan Mitchell in transition with two minutes to go. “That is winning basketball, and he’s been unreal, so credit to him,” Mitchell said after the game, per Bondy. “I knew it wasn’t a foul as soon as they called it, so no shock there, but credit to him.” The team had previously discussed the need to target backup guards in trades, but the emergence of Kolek should give some pause, in Bondy’s opinion. Still, the team will want to see what the rotation looks like once McBride returns to his usual role.
Kolek and Robinson weren’t the only Knicks bench players to have a major impact. When the team was “stuck in the mud,” to use coach Mike Brown‘s terminology, Jordan Clarkson came in and got them unstuck, writes Jared Schwartz of the New York Post. Clarkson had his best game of the season, scoring 25 points on 17 shots, while the Knicks outscored the Cavs by 13 in his time on the floor. “The times we were dead in the water, especially early in the game, he was the one guy that was keeping us in it,” Brown said. “First with his offense, he was really, really good for us offensively. And then defensively, he was good too.”
The Knicks’ depth has been an issue for the last several seasons, but Kolek, Clarkson, and Robinson have taken major strides to ensure that’s not the case this year, writes Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News. “They change the game. When I was younger, I tried to change the game when I came in off the bench,” said Jalen Brunson. “Tyler’s doing that, Jordan’s been a vet, been around for a long time. He does that every time he’s on the court. And Mitch is being who he is. He just impacts basketball, and so he’s always gonna be impacting the game as well. It’s all about them coming in and changing the game, and that’s their mindset and what they come in and do every single time.” McBride has been a major part of the bench’s success throughout the season, as has Landry Shamet, who is currently out with a shoulder sprain.

Knicks Notes: Cup Bonuses, Brunson, McBride, Clarkson, Kolek

December 22nd, 2025 at 1:44pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Each Knicks player received a bonus exceeding $530K for capturing the NBA Cup. Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson and some other players have decided to donate some of their winnings to support staff members, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post writes.

“I don’t think it was a hard decision,” Hart said. “Some of those people don’t get a bonus and they’re working to make sure we’re at the top of the game, no matter who they are. We want to make sure those people are also compensated for their extra time and their efforts.”

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Following a loss to Philadelphia, the Knicks got back on track by defeating the Heat on Sunday, 132-125. Brunson poured in a season-high 47 points. “He’s a special player. I think we know that,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “He doesn’t surprise you when he has nights like that.” Head coach Mike Brown continues to tout his point man as the league’s MVP, according to Bondy. “We were struggling a little bit offensively, you want to have an MVP of the league on your side. For him to score 47. … He’s capable of doing it and that’s what MVPs are supposed to do on nights like tonight,” Brown said.
Miles McBride is doing on-court work with Knicks coaches as he rehabs from his ankle sprain, Ian Begley of SNY tweets. McBride can take full contact but hasn’t practiced since the injury due to the team’s rugged schedule. He hasn’t played since Dec. 7.
Jordan Clarkson is playing on a minimum-salary contract after he reached a buyout agreement with Utah in early July and then decided to join the Knicks after clearing waivers. He has been a steady presence in the rotation and is averaging 13 points over the last four games. “Immediate spark. Immediate offensive presence, playing really well defensively, as well,” Brunson said of Clarkson, per Madeline Kenney of the New York Post. “What [he’s been] able to do for us so far this season has been tremendous and that’s just who he is. For as long as I’ve known him, that’s the type of person and player he’s brought to his teams that he’s been on and so very happy he’s here.”
Brunson has turned into a mentor for backup point guard Tyler Kolek, according to Kenney. “It’s been special,” Kolek said. “He’s kind of taken me under his wing. I’ve been able to watch him work out. … Just trying to pick up little tendencies from him, anything I can.”

Knicks May Move Guerschon Yabusele By Trade Deadline

December 22nd, 2025 at 8:02am CST by Arthur Hill

The Knicks are open to trading Guerschon Yabusele before the February 5 deadline, according to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic.

The 30-year-old big man was the team’s top free agency addition over the summer, but he hasn’t been effective in the first two months of the season, averaging 3.0 points and 2.2 rebounds in 9.6 minutes per night while shooting 39.4% from the field and 30.6% from three-point range. His numbers across the board are down sharply from what he posted in Philadelphia last season as he returned to the NBA after five years in Europe.

Yabusele is making $5.5MM this season and holds a $5.7MM player option for 2026/27, and multiple league executives tell Edwards that New York will likely have to give up other assets to get another team to take that contract.

The Knicks have been reaching out to rival teams in their search for another ball-handler and frontcourt player, Edwards hears from league sources. They don’t have a veteran lead guard in place who can play dependable minutes when Jalen Brunson rests. Edwards notes that Tyler Kolek has shown promise, especially during the past week, but there’s no guarantee he’s ready to fill that role.

New York is also looking for another big man, as the options on the current roster are limited behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson. Robinson is having another outstanding rebounding season, pulling down 8.6 boards per game in 18.2 minutes per night, but Edwards states that he’s still on a load management program in hopes of keeping him healthy for the playoffs. Robinson has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, and the Knicks aren’t in position to withstand a long-term absence.

The Knicks face financial limitations as they eye the trade market because of their proximity to the hard cap. They’ve been carrying 14 players on standard contracts all season and can’t fill their roster opening until early April.

With those restrictions in mind, Edwards identifies a few potential trade candidates:

Ayo Dosunmu — The Bulls guard would provide ball-handling and defense, but his $7.5MM salary means New York would have to send back Landry Shamet ($2.3MM), who was productive before injuring his shoulder, or possibly Pacome Dadiet ($2.9MM) or Kolek ($2.2MM) along with Yabusele or Miles McBride ($4.3MM). Edwards is skeptical about Chicago’s willingness to take Yabusele’s contract, so McBride would likely have to be part of the deal.
Jose Alvarado — Edwards suggests that the Pelicans guard may be more obtainable than Dosunmu, and his contract ($4.5MM with a $4.5MM player option for next season) would be easier to fit onto the roster. He also points out that the Knicks have multiple second-round picks that could be used to entice New Orleans to part with Alvarado.
Marvin Bagley III — His defense remains shaky, but he has been scoring and rebounding for the Wizards and his $2.2MM cap hit makes him an inexpensive option as a third center. Edwards believes he might be obtainable for a second-round pick.

Knicks Notes: Anunoby, Kolek, Robinson, Schedule, McBride

December 20th, 2025 at 9:42am CST by Dana Gauruder

OG Anunoby threw in a rare clunker in a nine-point Knicks loss to Philadelphia on Friday. Anunoby had just two points on 1-of-9 shooting and wasn’t much of a factor defensively, Jared Schwartz of the New York Post writes.

“I thought he was aggressive on his drives, he didn’t get any calls,” coach Mike Brown said. “It’s a weird game and the officials, they got a tough job but I don’t know if I’ll ever understand what’s a foul and what’s not a foul. Because guys, especially quick guys, they’ll put their head down and they’ll drive from point A to point B and if you lead with your chest, and they’re able to flop or fall off you good enough, it’s a foul. OG is a big, strong guy. When he drives, he doesn’t do that, he’s trying to attack the rim. He’s getting rerouted on his drive, but he can’t seem to get a call. “

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Tyler Kolek had an off night on Friday after some strong performances, including a 16-point, 11-assist outing vs. Indiana on Thursday, Schwartz notes. The reserve guard finished with two points, two assists, four turnovers and five fouls in 15 minutes vs. Philadelphia.
Notoriously poor free throw shooter Mitchell Robinson only missed one of his eight attempts on Friday after changing his routine. “We’ve just been working on a lot of arc on the free throws,” he said, per Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News. “We went in there this morning actually like 10 AM but it paid off tonight. So I guess we’re gonna put that in the routine now.” Robinson also said he’s changed the mechanics of his shot. “It feels way more comfortable,” he said. “Getting my elbow under it. Getting it up in the air a little more. It’s been great.”
Friday’s loss snapped a seven-game winning streak but might have been predictable, according to Schwartz. Following their NBA Cup triumph this week, the Knicks had to play a back-to-back. They won at Indiana despite being shorthanded on Thursday. “These guys are human,” Brown said. “But at the end of the day, we try to pride ourselves on being a no-excuse team. We’re gonna go out and play to the highest possible standard, or the highest possible level. Most times, we’ll probably have it, but tonight we didn’t.”
Miles McBride is doing on-court work but has yet to practice since spraining his ankle, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post tweets. The Knicks haven’t practiced or held a shootaround since Monday.

Knicks’ McBride Out At Least One More Week

December 11th, 2025 at 12:11pm CST by Luke Adams

The Knicks will be without guard Miles McBride for at least another seven days, according to the team, which announced today that McBride will be reevaluated in one week (Twitter link via Andrew Crane of The New York Post).

McBride was injured in the third quarter of Sunday’s win over Orlando when he drove to the net for a layup attempt that was contested by Magic wing Desmond Bane. Both players fell to the court on the play, with Bane’s left foot appearing to come down on McBride’s lower left leg (Twitter video link).

McBride was later diagnosed with a sprained ankle and was ruled out of the team’s NBA Cup quarterfinal on Tuesday. The latest update confirms he’ll also miss a rematch with Orlando in Saturday’s semifinal, as well as the NBA Cup championship game on Tuesday, if the Knicks advance that far.

If New York loses on Saturday, the team will have four days off before facing the Pacers in Indiana next Thursday, buying McBride more recovery time.

McBride, 25, has been an important part of the Knicks’ rotation this fall, starting nine of his 20 outings and averaging career highs in points (11.6), rebounds (2.6), and minutes (27.0) per game, as well as three-point percentage (44.4%).

With McBride out, New York figures to lean more heavily on backcourt reserves Jordan Clarkson and Tyler Kolek behind star point guard Jalen Brunson.

Knicks Notes: NBA Cup, McBride, Towns, Bridges, Anunoby

December 8th, 2025 at 10:05pm CST by Rory Maher

While Josh Hart says the pressure of the NBA Cup is “not even close” to competing in the playoffs, he and the rest of the Knicks are focused on winning their first in-season tournament title after being eliminated in the quarterfinals each of the past two years, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (subscriber link).

“Every year, we fell short at this stage,” Hart said. “So we got to get over that hump.”

The Knicks open the knockout stage at Toronto on Tuesday. If they win, they’ll advance the semifinal and face the winner of Miami vs. Orlando in Las Vegas on Saturday.

“Life is short. And this is how I look at it — you want excitement in your life. So you try to put yourselves in position when you have pressure at times,” head coach Mike Brown said. “That’s something that, if you’re a competitor and you want some excitement in your life, you embrace it. And one of our standards is having a competitive spirit. So all of our guys. Especially as you go along and advance, you should embrace any type of pressure that comes along with it.

“And it also helps you prepare for times down the road when you’re put in the same situation. So in the regular season, this is about as close as you can get to simulating a playoff run. So we try to talk about it and add more pressure to it and handle it the right way and see if we can go get it.”

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Miles McBride, who sustained a left ankle injury in Sunday’s win over Orlando and underwent an MRI on Monday, has been diagnosed with a sprain and will miss Tuesday’s game, according to Bondy (Twitter links). The 25-year-old guard was spotted in a walking boot earlier in the day, Bondy adds. Karl-Anthony Towns, who was ruled out of Sunday’s contest due to left calf tightness, is questionable for the matchup against the Raptors.
Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby are both worthy of legitimate consideration for their first All-Star appearances, contends James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. As Edwards explains, the Knicks are currently the No. 2 seed in the East, and if that continues, they’ll be deserving of having multiple All-Stars. Anunoby was arguably New York’s second-best player to open the season, but he missed nine games with a hamstring strain, leaving Bridges as the stronger candidate as of now. While neither player puts up gaudy offensive stats, they’ve both been highly efficient on that end on top of being top-notch defenders, Edwards writes. “He’s impacting winning,” Hart said of Bridges. “He plays both sides of the ball. Defensively, he’s been amazing. He’s been an All-Defense player for us.”
The Knicks improved to 13-1 at home with Sunday’s victory, notes Mike Vaccaro of The New York Post (subscription required), and that edge at Madison Square Garden could be an important factor in the playoffs for a team with championship aspirations. “We’ve done a great job of protecting our home court,” Hart said after contributing 17 points, 12 rebounds and two steals Sunday. “This should be the hardest place to play in the NBA, and we want teams to know that.”

Knicks’ Miles McBride Being Evaluated For Left Ankle Injury

December 7th, 2025 at 3:22pm CST by Rory Maher

Knicks guard Miles McBride was injured in the third quarter of Sunday’s win over Orlando, per James L. Edwards III of The Athletic (Twitter links).

New York Basketball has a video of the play (Twitter link). McBride drove into the lane and was fouled by Desmond Bane on a left-handed layup attempt. Bane’s left foot appeared to land on McBride’s left ankle.

McBride was able to get up on his own and stayed in to shoot two free throws, according to Edwards, but quickly asked to be subbed out and had a noticeable limp.

The Knicks announced after the game that McBride was being evaluated for a left ankle injury, with another update to come on Monday, tweets Ian Begley of SNY.tv.

As Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports (via Twitter), McBride had an X-ray on his left ankle, which was negative. The 25-year-old will undergo an MRI tomorrow, Scotto adds.

The former second-round pick is off to a strong start to the season, averaging 12.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 46.2% from long distance through 19 appearances (27.3 minutes per game).

In other Knicks injury news, Karl-Anthony Towns was ruled out of Sunday’s game with left calf tightness after initially being considered questionable (Twitter link via Barbara Barker of Newsday). Towns’ ailment — which appeared to be bothering him during Friday’s win over Utah, according to Jared Schwartz of The New York Post — doesn’t seem “too serious,” says Edwards (via Twitter).

Knicks Notes: Starting Five, Hart, NBA Cup, Point Guard

November 28th, 2025 at 9:57am CST by Luke Adams

During the first few weeks of the 2025/26 season, Mike Brown‘s preferred starting lineup for the Knicks featured Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Mitchell Robinson, with Landry Shamet stepping in when Anunoby went down with a hamstring strain.

With Shamet now sidelined due to an injury of his own, Anunoby still recovering, and Robinson no longer treated as an every-game starter, Brown said this week that he plans to stick for now with a smaller starting five that features Josh Hart and Miles McBride alongside Brunson, Towns, and Bridges, per Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. The Knicks used that group in victories over Brooklyn on Monday and Charlotte on Wednesday.

“[I’ll] continue to stay with it to see what direction it goes,” Brown said. “Everything is fluid in this business. Anything can happen at any time.”

Brunson said there’s “obviously chemistry” among those five players, who were the Knicks’ most-used players besides Anunoby last season. Bondy, meanwhile, argues that it’s probably the team’s fastest and most offensively talented lineup until Anunoby is ready to return.

Still, the numbers don’t suggest it’s been the Knicks’ best lineup so far. In 35 minutes together, that Brunson-Towns-Bridges-Hart-McBride group has a net rating of -10.3.

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After averaging 23.7 minutes in his first 10 outings this season, Hart has logged 33.2 MPG in his past six appearances — more importantly, he’s seeing more action in fourth quarters. Brown acknowledged on Wednesday that keeping Hart on the bench for a couple fourth quarters earlier in the month was a mistake, Bondy writes. “I’ll be the first to say that wasn’t the right thing to do because he does so many great things for us and our group and our coaching staff,” Brown said. “And obviously as time has gone on, we’ve gotten a better feel for how we’re going to play him and he’s got a better feel, too. But back then he obviously could’ve b—hed or complained or threw a fit. He didn’t. And he continued to believe in the process, even though what I was doing was wrong at the time.”
Hart was robbed of $185K in watches and jewelry in September, according to a report from Amanda Woods, Estrella McDaniel, and Matt Troutman of The New York Post. The theft occurred at a New York City hotel on September 5 when Hart, who was in town for a podcast event, was out of his room.
With a win over Milwaukee on Friday, the Knicks will clinch the top spot in their NBA Cup group and become the only team to advance to the knockout round in three straight years. The team is taking that opportunity seriously, according to Brown. “Yes, we talk about [the NBA Cup],” the Knicks’ head coach said, per Bondy. “I think in life, pressure is a privilege, so you try to manufacture it from time to time. I think if you’re in a situation where there is pressure, you’re doing pretty good because obviously if you’re competitive you’re going to put pressure on yourself no matter what. So trying to feel it from the outside a little bit as much as you can is a privilege and it gets you ready for the postseason, in my opinion, so I bring it up to our guys.”
Hart suggested that the NBA Cup champion should be awarded a half-win to give that team the tiebreaker advantage in the regular season standings at season’s end, according to Bondy. As it stands, the NBA Cup championship game doesn’t count at all toward the regular season, so the only incentive is the prize money at stake. “For me, that’ll be watch money,” Hart joked.
Ian Begley of SNY.tv (YouTube link) fields a handful of Knicks-related questions in his latest video mailbag, including a couple about the team’s likely priorities at the trade deadline — Begley believes a reliable backup point guard will be at the top of New York’s wish list.

Knicks Notes: Yabusele, Shamet, Hart, Trade Needs

November 26th, 2025 at 9:49pm CST by Arthur Hill

Guerschon Yabusele doesn’t understand why his weight has become an issue with some Knicks fans, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. Yabusele, who signed with New York in free agency over the summer, said he hasn’t put on any pounds since he played for Philadelphia last season.

“About this, because I heard it, and I could if I wanted to talk about it, but I just decided not to,” he said. “People say whatever they want to say. If you guys check with my weight from last year, it’s the same. So last year it wasn’t a problem, why is it a problem this year? And I’m actually less than last year.”

The Knicks list Yabusele at 283 pounds, which makes him among the league’s heaviest players. Bondy notes that some websites had him at 265 pounds last season, which appears to be a mistake because was at 279 pounds in the Sixers’ media guide.

The focus on Yabusele’s weight is likely a result of his decreased production this season. He’s averaging 2.7 points and 2.2 rebounds in 15 games while playing just 10.5 minutes per night. His .349/.276/.500 shooting numbers are also disappointing for a player who was much more productive in his return to the NBA last season.

“I’m not focusing on none of that. I’m just doing my thing,” Yabusele said of the weight complaints. “I feel good and in great shape. So it is what it is.”

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Landry Shamet will miss at least four weeks with a right shoulder sprain, but Ian Begley of SNY.tv doesn’t believe he’s in any danger of being waived despite his non-guaranteed contract (Twitter link). Begley points out that teams are obligated to cover the salaries of injured players throughout their recovery process, so there wouldn’t be any financial benefits for the Knicks to part with Shamet. Coach Mike Brown voiced his support for keeping him on the roster, per Steve Popper of Newsday (Twitter link). “That’s something that (team president Leon Rose) and his group will discuss,” Brown told reporters. “But Landry is a really big part of what we’re doing and I’ll give up my salary for him.”
Josh Hart credits Knicks shooting coach Peter Patton for helping him improve his jumper while wearing a splint on his right ring finger, James L. Edwards III of The Athletic states in a mailbag column. Hart revealed that he and Patton “made small tweaks here and there, but we’re just smoothing everything out.”
In the same piece, Edwards acknowledges that depth at center and power forward is an issue for the Knicks, but he believes finding a reliable backup point guard should be a greater priority in trade talks. Edwards speculates that Yabusele, Miles McBride and some of the team’s younger players are most likely to be moved in any deal.

Knicks Notes: Hart, McBride, Towns, Shamet, Robinson

November 24th, 2025 at 11:04pm CST by Luke Adams

Entering Monday’s matchup with Brooklyn, the Knicks had lost three of their past five games and had allowed 123 points per contest during that stretch. As Stefan Bondy of The New York Post wrote ahead of Monday’s game, a lack of on-ball defensive stoppers has been an issue, especially with OG Anunoby sidelined due to a hamstring strain.

“I’m confident we can be where we need to defensively,” head coach Mike Brown said on Sunday. “We played well in some instances and we haven’t played well. That’s what you go through especially during this part of the year. So I do think we can be a really good defensive team, but again, no matter who we throw out there, we’ve gotta have a feel and understanding of what we’re trying to do on that end of the floor to get things done.”

The Knicks got Miles McBride back on Monday following a one-game absence due to an illness and inserted him into the lineup alongside forward Josh Hart, who got his first start of the season as part of a smaller starting five, Bondy tweets. The result was exactly what Brown wanted to see — New York held the Nets to 100 points en route to a victory, with Hart recognized as the team’s defensive player of the game, per James L. Edwards III of The Athletic (Twitter link).

Brown told reporters after the win that he was pleased with the way Hart spoke after Saturday’s loss about the Knicks needing to change their mentality on defense, then backed up those comments with his performance against Brooklyn.

“That’s what leadership is about,” Brown said.

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Karl-Anthony Towns‘ 14-of-20 performance against Brooklyn on Monday was easily his best shooting night of the season. The 37-point outburst was an important development for a star “in desperate need of reprieve,” according to Kristian Winfield of The New York Daily News, who wonders if the game could be a turning point for Towns. The big man entered the night averaging 21.7 PPG on .429/.318/.877 shooting.
The Knicks have yet to share an update on Landry Shamet‘s diagnosis after he left Saturday’s game with a shoulder injury. As Bondy writes for The New York Post, if Shamet dislocated his shoulder like he did a year ago, he may have to decide whether to undergo potential season-ending surgery or try to return sooner by going the non-surgical route again. “Obviously, we know how valuable he is,” Mikal Bridges said of the reserve guard. “But it’s next guy. Next guy has to step up. A lot of guys in the locker room that’s ready. Just next man up, honestly.”
Brown recently told reporters that Mitchell Robinson‘s agent has been involved in the load management plan for the veteran center this season. Bondy explores what that means for Robinson, who is in a contract year and will be an unrestricted free agent next summer if he doesn’t sign an extension before then.
Fred Katz and James L. Edwards III of The Athletic share their early-season impressions on the Knicks, including evaluating the job that Brown has done with the team so far. Edwards likes the way in which Brown has empowered some second-unit players, while Katz says it’ll take more time to assess the new head coach’s impact, since he has spent the first few weeks of the season experimenting with his lineups and personnel.

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