Knicks Notes: Shamet, McBride, Robinson, Diawara
Knicks guard Landry Shamet, who has missed the past five games due to a bone bruise in his right knee, is no longer on the injury report and will return to action on Wednesday when the team visits Memphis, tweets James L. Edwards III of The Athletic.
However, a couple other Knicks rotation players will be unavailable, as center Mitchell Robinson (left ankle injury management) and guard Miles McBride (pelvic/core muscle injury management) will sit out on the second end of a back-to-back set. Star guard Jalen Brunson is also considered questionable to play, having been added to the injury report due to right ankle soreness.
Although McBride appeared to reinjure himself on Sunday in his first game back from sports hernia surgery, he was back on the court on Tuesday and is only being held out on Wednesday because he’s not ready for back-to-backs yet. McBride explained on Tuesday that he was simply experiencing some discomfort in his first game back as a result of scar tissue breaking down, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post.
“Scar tissue is built up because it tightens everything. And now it’s getting more elastic, stretching out,” McBride said. “I came down (defending a Thunder player), tried to switch gears, and the scar tissue is ripping and getting better. … Surgery is going to cause pain. I’m not sure when it’s going to fully subside. So whatever I can do to help the team win.”
We have more on the Knicks:
- In a separate story for the New York Post, Bondy considers what Robinson’s value might be in unrestricted free agency this summer. The big man, who turns 28 today, has averaged just 19.5 minutes per game this season, but describes his impact as “incredible,” in part due to his rebounding — he’s pulling down 8.7 boards per night, including 4.2 on the offensive end.
- After Mohamed Diawara saw just four total minutes of action in losses to Oklahoma City and Houston, Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News (subscription required) questions why the rookie forward isn’t playing a more prominent role in the Knicks’ rotation, arguing that the team could use his versatility, floor spacing, and energy.
- Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports evaluates where the Knicks are at with the postseason around the corner and cites a few red flags, including the team’s inconsistent play against high-end competition, its defensive holes when Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns share the court, and the fact that Towns is still talking about “working through” his fit in Mike Brown‘s offense with just a couple weeks left in the regular season.
Knicks Notes: McBride, Robinson, Towns, Hornets, Anunoby
The Knicks could get a key reserve back from injury on Sunday, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv, who reports (via Twitter) that Miles McBride hasn’t been ruled out of tomorrow’s game at Oklahoma City. If the fifth-year guard doesn’t play Sunday, he’s on track to return to action either on Tuesday at Houston or Wednesday at Memphis, Begley adds.
McBride has been sidelined since late January following surgery to repair a core muscle injury, also known as a sports hernia. He went through Saturday’s practice, tweets Jared Schwartz of The New York Post, and will be listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Thunder, per Steve Popper of Newsday (Twitter link).
We have more on the Knicks:
- Head coach Mike Brown benched Karl-Anthony Towns in favor of Mitchell Robinson for the final eight minutes of Thursday’s loss to Charlotte, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. The Knicks were hammered on the glass, having lost the rebounding battle 43-24, which was “part” of the reason Brown turned to Robinson, who was plus-eight in 26 minutes (Towns was minus-18 in 22 minutes). “I just thought when we had Mitch in there with certain guys, we were able to match their physicality,” Brown said. “And we made a run. But we were down 20 at that time. And versus a good team on the road, that’s tough to do.” Towns was also on the bench down the stretch of Tuesday’s win over New Orleans as New York went with a small-ball lineup, Bondy notes.
- The Hornets could be the most difficult first-round opponent for the Knicks if they finish as the No. 6 seed and New York stays at No. 3, Bondy writes in a subscriber-only story. According to Bondy, the Knicks were “overwhelmed by Charlotte’s speed and athleticism” on Thursday. “That’s their style,” Brown said. “They play fast. They want to let that thing fly. They got shooters that’ll let it fly. Josh (Hart) did a great job. Josh was up into the ball. He was physical with his man without fouling. He showed his hands when he needed to, and everybody that he guarded, they felt him. I can’t say it was like that all the way across the board and we have to do a better job of that if we expect to beat a good team like this on the road.”
- OG Anunoby is the best defender on Knicks team that has the fifth-best defensive rating in the NBA, according to Bondy (subscription required), who believes the 28-year-old forward should be named to the All-Defensive first team for his performance on that end of the court in 2025/26. “He guarded a lot of different players,” Brown said after Tuesday’s win. “And to close the way he did against Zion (Williamson) — Zion is a monster, he’s a handful for anybody, so for OG to do what he did down the stretch with him was huge.”
New York Notes: Robinson, Alvarado, Minott, Porter Jr.
Mitchell Robinson played a season-high 31 minutes on Friday and he made the most of his increased role. The Knicks center grabbed a career-high 22 rebounds, nine offensive, in a nine-point victory over Indiana.
Robinson has been on a load management plan all season.
“It’s obviously shown that it’s paid off,” coach Mike Brown told the New York Post’s Jared Schwartz, “because of his ability to, knock on wood, stay on the floor and play in games and play the minutes he played tonight.”
It’s a good sign for a big man, who will be on the free agent market this summer if he doesn’t sign an extension before then.
Here’s more on the New York teams:
- Knicks guard Jose Alvarado is frustrated by his lack of three-point success since being traded to New York, according to Schwartz. “I just gotta continue to trust in my work. I’ve been a good shooter my whole career,” he said. “It’s a different road, a different situation here. You asked me how [my three-point shooting] is, it sucks, so I gotta get better at it.” Since knocking down eight three-pointers against the Sixers on Feb. 11, Alvarado, who holds a $4.5MM option on next season’s contract, has made just five of 34 attempts. He didn’t even take a shot in 13 minutes against the Pacers on Friday.
- Josh Minott had a career night against Atlanta on Thursday, notching 24 points, three rebounds, three steals and three blocks in 24 minutes. He was acquired by the Nets from Boston prior to last month’s trade deadline. “I’ve been waiting on it,” Minott told Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “But at the end of the day, I’m not going to call it pointless — but it’s one goal. So overall, I don’t want to say satisfied, but I’m pretty happy with my performance. But at the end of the day, it’s about getting numbers in the right column.” The Nets hold a $2.58MM option on Minott’s non-guaranteed contract for next season. If it’s exercised, his salary would become guaranteed on July 15.
- The Nets’ leading scorer, Michael Porter Jr., won’t play this afternoon against the Sixers due to an ankle sprain, Lewis tweets. This will be the 15th game Porter has missed this season.
Knicks Notes: Clarkson, Halftime Meeting, Lineup, Issues
A return to Salt Lake City brought out the best in Jordan Clarkson. The Knicks reserve guard scored a season-high 27 points against the Jazz, his former team, in a 134-117 win on Wednesday.
He played 26 minutes, the most court time he’s seen since Christmas Day. He had only played a total of 20 minutes in his three other March appearances.
“For him to go out and perform the way he did, you couldn’t ask for anything better,” coach Mike Brown said, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “And it goes to show he’s not just keeping his body right but his mind is in a good spot to go after coming in when you’re down [18 points] in the first half. So just to see that, you couldn’t ask for anything better. Especially from him, who is a veteran who hasn’t been playing or in the rotation and all of a sudden we need him.”
Clarkson will be an unrestricted free agent after the season.
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- A halftime challenge helped perk up a team that had lost its previous two games. The Knicks outscored Utah 78-52 in the second half. The coaches and players both spoke up during the break, Bondy writes. “It was our halftime speech, in terms of how we came at each other, where we tried to hold each other accountable,” Clarkson said. “And then just came out here and wanted to win.”
- Slow starts have been a major problem for the Knicks since the All-Star break. In the last 11 first quarters prior to Wednesday, their usual starting five had a net rating of minus-15.3. Landry Shamet replaced an injured Josh Hart in Utah but the results didn’t improve. Jared Schwartz of the New York Post argues that making changes to the lineup of Jalen Brunson, Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns probably won’t make much of a difference. Inserting Mitchell Robinson wouldn’t make much sense either, considering his load management plan.
- ESPN columnist Vince Goodwill breaks down five issues confronting the Knicks prior to the playoffs. Getting the most out of Towns and getting Brunson back in form are two of the biggest items on Goodwill’s list.
Knicks Notes: Robinson, Alvarado, Sochan, Diawara
The load management plan that the Knicks instituted for Mitchell Robinson has been successful so far, writes Jared Schwartz of The New York Post. Robinson has already appeared in 44 games, which tops his totals from each of the past two seasons, and he’s on pace for his highest number of games played since 2021/22. Coach Mike Brown credits his medical team for keeping Robinson healthy, along with Robinson himself for being on board with the strategy.
“He’s bought into this plan and he’s tried to execute it at the highest of high levels,” Brown said. “So I give all those guys a ton of credit because I’m just kind of jumping on the bandwagon and following their lead. To see him out there, because the best thing almost anybody can have is their availability, so to see him out there as much as he’s been out there has been really good for us.”
Part of the plan includes not playing Robinson on back-to-back nights, regardless of the circumstances. Brown opted to use Robinson in Tuesday’s win at Toronto rather than saving him for tonight’s game against Oklahoma City, the reigning NBA champs, explaining that he felt beating the Raptors was more important because they’re an Eastern Conference rival, per Stefan Bondy of The New York Post.
Robinson came up limping and grabbed at his ankle after fighting for a rebound in the first quarter on Tuesday, but he told reporters it was nothing serious.
There’s more from New York:
- Speaking to the media before tonight’s game, Brown saluted team president Leon Rose for acquiring Jose Alvarado from New Orleans at the trade deadline (Twitter video link from Ian Begley of SNY.tv). Alvarado has been getting regular minutes at backup point guard and is averaging 8.0 points and 4.0 assists in 10 games since joining the Knicks. “I gotta give Leon credit; he went out and got him, ” Brown said. … “The energy on top of the quickness that he brings to the table every time we step on the floor is irreplaceable.”
- It’s been a much different experience for Jeremy Sochan, another recent addition who joined the Knicks after agreeing to a buyout with San Antonio. Limited mostly to garbage time in seven appearances with New York, Sochan told Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express News (subscription required) that he’s still adjusting to his new surroundings. “I’m settling in,” he said. “It’s been chaotic for sure. It doesn’t help that it’s in season, so we’ve been traveling as well. Everyone has been welcoming — the owners and the players and the whole community. Everything has been positive.”
- Mohamed Diawara, the 51st pick in last year’s draft, is the latest in a string of second-round finds for the Knicks, Kristian Winfield of The New York Daily News observes in a subscriber-only piece. Diawara’s playing time has been modest, but he has impressed the team whenever he’s been given minutes. “First thing I would say is Mo is not afraid. I’ve said this to you guys before, for a young guy, I’ve thrown him out there in games — to start — on national TV, and he didn’t bat an eye,” Brown told reporters after Sunday’s game. “And he might start three games in a row, then he might not play the fourth game, he doesn’t bat an eye. He is the most confident young man I’ve been around.”
Knicks Notes: Deadline, Alvarado, Robinson, Kolek, McBride
President Leon Rose deserves kudos for making the Knicks better at the trade deadline, contends Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (subscriber link).
While Rose made a mistake by signing Guerschon Yabusele in free agency last summer, he corrected his error by essentially flipping the French forward/center and a pair of second-round picks to acquire Jose Alvarado. The backup point guard fills a position of need, and his smaller salary also gives the Knicks enough breathing room beneath their second-apron hard cap that they should be players on the buyout market, Bondy writes.
The fact that Giannis Antetokounmpo is still a Buck benefited the Knicks as well, Bondy notes, since the star forward wasn’t sent to an Eastern Conference rival. New York will have the option of revisiting trade talks for the two-time MVP in the offseason, when the team will have a pair of first-round picks to offer.
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Prior to Friday’s game, head coach Mike Brown said he was excited about what Alvarado will bring to the Knicks, according to Bondy (Twitter link). “He just brings a level of toughness to the team, his energy is unmatched. What he can do defensively in the full court and even in the frontcourt on the ball especially on pick-and-rolls and stuff like that, is at a pretty high level,” Brown said. “He shoots it better than most people think. We want to play fast and we believe he’s a guy who will come in and push the pace. Get us into our offense and all that other stuff. Because he is quick, he’s got a low center of gravity. Been around for a while, he’ll touch the paint and make others better. We’re a big spray team and he should be good in that area too. So excited to have him.”
- The Knicks love Mitchell Robinson. Will they extend him or re-sign him in free agency this summer? “As one team put it to me a couple days ago, they may value him more than (any other team) in the league,” Ian Begley of SNY.tv said (Twitter video link). ” … Because of that, and because of the signals some Knick people have given out to other teams, I assume they’re going to do what they can — do what they have to do — to re-sign him.”
- Second-year guard Tyler Kolek said he’s looking forward to competing with Alvarado for minutes in the wake of Miles McBride‘s sports hernia surgery, Bondy writes for The New York Post. “There’s always competition in this league. Obviously Deuce is out for a little bit. We’re trying to be a championship-level team so you bring in as much talent as you can,” Kolek said Friday. “I’m going to compete every single day. He’s going to compete. Everybody on this team is going to compete for minutes. So it’s no slight to anybody.” Citing league sources, Begley hears McBride is expected to return to action in six-to-eight weeks after he undergoes the procedure (Twitter link).
- New York’s eight-game winning streak was snapped on Friday when the team was blown out by the top-seeded Pistons in Detroit. Karl-Anthony Towns (right eye laceration) and OG Anunoby (right toe soreness) were out for the Knicks, while Jalen Duren (right knee soreness) was sidelined for Detroit.
Knicks Rumors: Dosunmu, Towns, Bridges, Trade Tiers, More
Within a trade deadline guide for the Knicks, James L. Edwards III of The Athletic mentions Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu as a player New York might be interested in. The Knicks are fans of Dosunmu’s game, but it would “cost a lot” to acquire him, says Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (Twitter link).
Edwards specifically points to Miles McBride as a player the Knicks might have to give up in a deal for Dosunmu, who earns $7.5MM this season and will be a free agent in the offseason if he doesn’t sign an extension before then. However, Edwards doesn’t view scenario as likely, noting that McBride has been a key contributor for New York and is on a team-friendly contract.
A “few” rival executives Edwards spoke to don’t think Karl-Anthony Towns is off-limits in trade talks, but his value is believed to have declined since the Knicks acquired him. That’s also the case for Mikal Bridges, multiple league sources tell Edwards. Both of those factors seemingly make the Knicks a long shot to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo, even though they remain interested in the superstar forward.
If Towns is traded by February 5 in a deal that doesn’t involve Antetokounmpo, Edwards hears the Knicks would likely receive salary-matching pieces. Minor draft compensation may be included as well. While he wouldn’t be surprised if the five-time All-Star is moved in a non-Antetokounmpo deal, Edwards thinks that outcome is unlikely.
Here’s more from Edwards on the Knicks:
- New York continues to shop Guerschon Yabusele, but his contract is viewed negatively and rival teams think the Knicks will have to attach assets to move him unless he’s included in a major multi-team trade, sources tell Edwards. Yabusele is included in Edwards’ “most likely to be traded” tier along with Pacome Dadiet, Tyler Kolek and Jordan Clarkson. According to Edwards, Clarkson could be a buyout candidate after the deadline if the two sides decide to part ways — the veteran guard has been out of the rotation lately.
- Edwards’ “could get traded, but I wouldn’t bet on it” tier consists of Towns, McBride and Mitchell Robinson. As Edwards writes, New York’s front office has a history of trading players on expiring contracts, but Robinson has been very valuable when active and it probably doesn’t make sense to move him given his on-court contributions.
- The “won’t get traded unless in an Antetokounmpo-type deal” group features OG Anunoby, Josh Hart and Bridges. The only untouchable player on the Knicks’ roster is Jalen Brunson, according to Edwards.
- Edwards also lists three small-scale trades that could make sense for the teams involved. One of Edwards’ fake deals would see New York acquire Jose Alvarado and Karlo Matkovic from New Orleans in exchange for Yabusele, Dadiet and Washington’s 2026 first-round pick, which is top-eight protected and almost certain to be conveyed as two second-round picks. Those two second-rounders hold real value though, and Edwards isn’t sure it would be worth it, but Alvarado has drawn a good deal of interest on market.
Karl-Anthony Towns Benched In Crunch Time Amid Trade Rumors
The Knicks closed out a win without Karl-Anthony Towns for the second time in four days, writes Jared Schwartz of The New York Post. On Saturday against Philadelphia, it was because he fouled out, but in Tuesday’s victory over Sacramento, coach Mike Brown made the decision to keep Towns on the bench for the final 6:51 and let Mitchell Robinson finish the game at center. The strategy worked as New York turned a four-point lead into a 16-point win after Towns departed.
Towns said of Brown’s decision. “We got a win, that’s the most important thing.”
Trade rumors have begun to emerge regarding Towns, whose offensive numbers have declined sharply in his first season under Brown. He finished with 17 points in 27 minutes last night while shooting 5-of-15 from the field and had a team-worst minus-3 rating.
After being acquired in a deal with Minnesota shortly before the start of last season, Towns teamed with Jalen Brunson to be the focus of the Knicks’ offense as they reached the Eastern Conference Finals. He averaged 24.4 points and 12.8 rebounds while earning third-team All-NBA honors.
The coaching transition from Tom Thibodeau to Brown seems to have affected Towns more than any other player. His stats have fallen to 20.5 PPG and 11.4 RPG and his shooting numbers (46.6% from the field and 36.5% from three-point range) are the worst of his career.
“At the end of the game, we had a group out on the floor that was playing well,” Brown explained. “It was a tight ballgame, so I just rode that group to the end of the game, which I’ve done before. We have Deuce (Miles McBride) out there, who’s not a starter, Mitch out there, who’s not a starter. We needed to get the win.”
Robinson’s emergence has been a factor in Towns’ reduced playing time, as he posted a plus-25 rating in 27 minutes against the Kings. However, Mike Vaccaro of The New York Post notes that the Knicks’ focus on keeping Robinson healthy for the playoffs and avoiding any further issues with his left ankle means his availability is frequently in question.
There have been conflicting reports on whether the Knicks are actually exploring a Towns deal, but it doesn’t seem likely to happen until Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s future is resolved. With a $53.1MM salary this season that rises to $57MM in 2026/27, Towns could be a valuable piece in a potential deal for the Bucks star.
Knicks Notes: Yabusele, Towns, Robinson, Anunoby
Trade rumors continue to swirl around Guerschon Yabusele, and the veteran forward/center concedes he thought his time with the Knicks would be much different than what has actually taken place, according to Jared Schwartz of The New York Post.
“It’s definitely not what I was expecting to [do] coming into the season,” Yabusele said before Saturday’s win at Philadelphia. “I thought it would be a little more different.”
After being a rotation regular for the Sixers last season, Yabusele has played a very minor role with New York, averaging just 9.2 minutes per game across 38 appearances. He went scoreless in three minutes against his former team on Saturday.
The 30-year-old sounds open to a new destination, Schwartz writes, as Yabusele recently retweeted a social media post from a French account that read, “A trade and a good situation for the captain [of the French national team], that’s all we’re asking.” Still, he’s not used to being the subject of trade speculation.
“It’s nothing that I can control,” Yabusele said. “Just try to be smart, preparing, [be] as ready as I can. To go out there when my name is called and to give everything on the court.”
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Head coach Mike Brown said after Friday’s practice that he has made some changes to the offense to help Karl-Anthony Towns, but wing Josh Hart said he’d rather have the big man locked in on other end of the court, writes Kristian Winfield of The New York Daily News. “It’s a little different [playing under Brown compared to Tom Thibodeau, but] we are basketball players. We have to be able to adapt to different situations,” said Hart. “I think coaches have to adapt, and their players have to adapt to their coach. I think there’s a good middle ground and sometimes we’re still trying to figure that out. At the end of the day, he’s a good offensive player and he’s going to figure that out. He’s gotta make sure he focuses on defense. I don’t wanna hear too much about him shooting. I want to hear about him blocking shots.”
- Towns, who was a game-time decision for Saturday’s contest due to back spasms and appeared to be bothered by the issue throughout the game, only managed to play 16 minutes before fouling out with 5:24 remaining in the fourth quarter, per Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
- With Towns struggling, backup center Mitchell Robinson stepped up and helped lead the team to a victory, Bontemps adds. “We locked in defensively,” said Robinson, who finished with six points, 10 rebounds (six offensive), two steals and two blocks. “We came back into halftime to see what we were lacking, especially myself. Defensively in the first half, I ain’t do too great. But definitely in the second half came with more energy.” Robinson, who was plus-14 in 27 minutes, is playing on an expiring $13MM contract and will be a free agent in the summer if he doesn’t sign an extension before then.
- New York led Saturday’s game by as many as 17 points in the fourth quarter, but Philadelphia mounted a comeback bid that came up just short thanks in part to the late-game heroics of OG Anunoby, Schwartz notes. The final two minutes were chaotic, with both teams blowing opportunities, but the Knicks managed to win their second straight game. Anunoby scored five points and dished out an assist on a Landry Shamet three down the stretch. “OG changed the game defensively,” Brown said. “And his quick decisions with the basketball. It was beautiful to watch.“
Knicks Have Talked To Multiple Teams About Trading Towns
The Knicks‘ 2025/26 season reached a new low point with Monday’s 17-point home loss to the injury-ravaged Mavericks, writes Steve Popper of Newsday (subscriber link). New York trailed by as many as 30 points in the first half and was down 28 at halftime, when fans at Madison Square Garden “serenaded” the team with boos.
The Knicks have now dropped nine of their past 11 games and are in danger of falling into play-in territory after holding a 23-9 record three weeks ago. In the 10 games leading into Monday, they had the second-worst defensive rating in the NBA, Popper notes.
The team’s effort was particularly dispiriting considering the Knicks had their full complement of players available — Jalen Brunson (right ankle sprain) and Josh Hart (right ankle soreness) both returned to action following injury absences.
“Guys are gonna be banged up, guys aren’t gonna be 100 percent, it’s the dog days of the season,” Hart said, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (subscription required). “But the effort, I think last year no matter what we did, the effort was there. I haven’t seen this kind of effort that we had today, it was embarrassing.”
Hart admitted prior to the game that his ankle isn’t fully healthy, tweets Ian Begley of SNY.tv.
“I want to be out there to try to help the team as much as I can so (the team’s recent struggles) did (influence his decision) a little bit; a combination of that, there’s the competitiveness and the impatience that I display,” Hart said.
Two weeks ago, owner James Dolan said he expected the team to — at minimum — reach the NBA Finals. He also expressed confidence in the team’s roster and chemistry. The Knicks were promptly blown out by the top-seeded Pistons and have a 2-6 record since that public interview.
Both Popper and Bondy point out that Dolan left his courtside seat at halftime and did not return for the second half. The last time Bondy recalls that happening was during a lopsided loss in 2019, when former executives Scott Perry and Steve Mills were forced to speak to reporters after the game. Then-coach David Fizdale was fired a few days later; Mills was dismissed not long after that.
Bondy isn’t advocating for the team to fire head coach Mike Brown, which he thinks would be “reactionary and ill-advised.” But Bondy does believe a major roster shake-up is in order, and says everyone aside from Brunson and Hart should be available. That includes Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, two players the Knicks acquired in previous blockbuster trades.
Big man Towns, who has struggled to find his form under Brown, was singled out with boos twice in the fourth quarter, per Popper — once when checking out with just under five minutes remaining, and again 29 seconds later when he checked back in for Mitchell Robinson, who picked up two quick fouls.
Towns said he understood the fans’ reaction, considering the Knicks “didn’t really have a chance” to win, as Brian Mahoney of The Associated Press relays.
“Fans are doing their part and we’ve got to do our part,” Towns said.
According to Popper, “whispers” have begun to circulate around the league about the possibility of the Knicks trading Towns, whose name popped up in rumors over the summer involving the Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo. League sources tell Popper the Knicks have discussed potential Towns deals with multiple teams, including the Grizzlies, Magic and Hornets.
For what it’s worth, Bondy proposes a fake trade that would send Towns and unspecified salary filler to the Trail Blazers for Jrue Holiday and Jerami Grant.