News Knicks Team Notes

We’ve finally gotten an update on the long-rumored Ben Simmons situation, and it’s a good one

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Ever since the Knicks addressed their bench scoring needs early in the off-season, it’s been a slow and quiet summer for New York. There were a few weeks where we heard murmurs of who the Knicks would bring in to fill Mike Brown’s coaching staff, and we saw the usual big names being linked to the Knicks as future trade possibilities. And besides that, the only other real updates were ones surrounding who the Knicks would sign to fill their final roster spot. Names like Malcolm Brogdon, Torrey Craig, Caleb Houston, Mo Bamba, Amir Coffey, and former Knicks Alec Burks and Landry Shamet have all been thrown around at one point or another. But there was one name that kept being brought up. Ben Simmons. The former number one pick is an enigma to the highest degree, and his ceiling, as well as his floor, continues to make him an incredibly polarizing figure.

At his best, Simmons was an All-NBA caliber player who, despite his infamous shooting woes, could change the trajectory of a team with his incredibly rare combination of size, athleticism, and playmaking. But those days seem to be long gone, thanks in large part to injuries and what some would label as mental challenges. Yet over the last couple of seasons, Simmons has proven that in the right role, he can still succeed as a bench playmaker, capable of defending at a very high level. He answered questions surrounding his ability to take a backseat and play a lesser role. However, the questions surrounding both his health and commitment lingered, which is, without a doubt, the primary reason someone of his talent level remains a free agent. And it seems like it’ll stay that way for a bit longer, as we learned earlier today that Simmons has turned down the Knicks’ one-year offer.

For a Knicks team that is looking to win now and fill its roster with another veteran player capable of contributing immediately, Simmons checked a lot of boxes. He may not be the player he once was, or had the potential of being, but he could’ve been someone who helped form formidable defensive lineups and take some playmaking pressures off of its guards. But the Knicks, who should, and likely will, prioritize shooting and spacing, also made for a questionable fit for Simmons. While there aren’t many players on the Knicks, let alone the league, that are exactly like Simmons, his lack of shooting makes his skillset a bit redundant with the likes of Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson, two players who figure to be a pivotal part of the Knicks’ season.

A lineup consisting of some combination of Deuce McBride, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, the aforementioned Hart and Robinson, and Simmons has the chance to be one of the best defensive lineups any team in the league could call on. But there just aren’t a lot of lineup combinations that Simmons would realistically work with, given his and some of the other players’ offensive weaknesses. The Knicks’ two best players are minuses on the defensive end, and New York knows that. They signed an offensive-minded coach in Brown, and doubled down on maximizing offensive firepower this offseason by signing Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele. Simmons goes against all of that.

The former Sixer, Net, and Clipper might’ve given them some defensive assurance and some depth. He’s a high-risk, high-reward player who might’ve done some great things as a Knick. And he is one of, if not the sexiest name, the Knicks could’ve gone after. But a team that is looking to compete for a championship doesn’t need a player who has had troubles staying healthy, isn’t a perfect fit, has had questions surrounding his commitment, and may not be cut out for the internal and external pressures of being a Knick.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...ored-ben-simmons-situation-and-its-a-good-one
 
What changes Mike Brown might bring to the Knicks

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This week, John Schuhmann dug into the adjustments Mike Brown might bring to New York, and the themes are pretty clear.

The Knicks have leaned heavily on Jalen Brunson’s isolation game, ranking near the bottom in ball and player movement every year under Tom Thibodeau. Brown’s history in Sacramento suggests he’ll want the offense to flow more freely, with cuts, passes, and off-ball activity creating easier looks. It might even benefit Captain Clutch himself, who has been more efficient on catch-and-shoot threes than pull-ups.

Tempo is another area to watch. The Knicks were one of the slowest teams in the league at getting into their sets, often leaving themselves to grind out possessions against the shot clock. Brown’s Kings squad consistently goosed the ball up the floor faster, even if it wasn’t always to score in transition. Simply starting earlier opened up more options, which is something recent Knicks teams could have used more of.

On defense, the question is whether Brown will show more flexibility than Thibs. Towns and Brunson are both liable to be targeted in the pick-and-roll, and Thibs rarely turned to zone as a counter. In Sacramento, Brown was willing to deploy zone situationally. Potentially playing bigger lineups with a healthy Mitchell Robinson alongside Karl-Anthony Towns, the new coach could experiment with schemes that protect their stars while still dominating the glass.

The Knicks’ core is back, the depth has been bolstered, and now the biggest variable is their skipper. If Mike can coax more movement, a quicker tempo, and a little more creativity on defense, the ‘Bockers just might be ready to steamroll the league.

What do you think: are these tweaks enough to turn the Knicks into true Finals contenders? Air it out below. And you can read Schuhmann’s article here. Go Knicks.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...-changes-mike-brown-might-bring-to-the-knicks
 
NBA legend and Knickstape icon Carmelo Anthony is the freshest Hall of Famer

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Ladies and gentlemen, Carmelo Anthony has officially secured his place among basketball’s immortals.

On Saturday, the Brooklyn-born forward was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, closing the chapter on a career that spanned nearly two decades and firmly established him as one of the game’s bona fide walking buckets.

Love or hate him, Melo’s history won’t ever be forgotten after this moment.

Anthony’s enshrinement placed Anthony alongside a strong 2025 class that included BIG3 rookie Dwight Howard and a trio of W superheroines in Sue Bird, Sylvia Fowles, and Maya Moore.

“Pardon my language, but damn. Tonight I just don’t step into the Hall of Fame, I carry the echoes of every voice that ever told me I couldn’t. I had to build a new road. I had to write a new ending. I never got an NBA ring. But I know what I gave to the game.” — Carmelo Anthony

Anthony’s résumé has long been viewed as Hall of Fame worthy, but that doesn’t mean the hooper had it hard to find a way to generate controversy about his position in NBA history, before and after retiring.

For the uninitiated, Melo is a 10-time NBA All-Star, 2013 bucket champ, and three-time Olympic gold medalist. Among many others, including the GOAT “Hoodie Melo,” Anthony legitimately earned the nickname “Olympics Melo” for his dominant international performances no matter where hoops happened to be played.

Before his NBA days, adding to his odds to eventually make it to the HoF, Melo led Syracuse University to the 2003 NCAA championship in his only college season as a true freshman, putting himself on par—if not above—a certain LeBron James ahead of the 2003 NBA draft.

you’ve made New York proud, @carmeloanthony! pic.twitter.com/7v4k3geZkF

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) September 7, 2025

Against Anthony’s legacy and the main reason for controversy surrounding his name: if this were the MLB and we were talking baseball, is that it’d be mad hard to pick a hat for him to wear into the Cemetery of Legends.

Melo’s first seven seasons with the Denver Nuggets brought playoff appearances but no Finals berths, although it’s undeniable how Anthony simply brought the Nuggets back to life before Nikola Jokic (who was then handed the iconic No. 15) brought Denver to the promised land.

Following a forced trade to the New York Knicks in 2011, Melo returned home to play inside the fabled walls of Madison Square Garden, where he spent seven seasons as the face of the franchise and delivered its last playoff series victory in 2013 before the Jalen Brunson-Tom Thibodeau era changed the franchise’s outlook for real.

Back in 2013, coinciding with the aforementioned postseason, Melo prevented LeBron James from a unanimous MVP win by picking up the only first-place vote James didn’t get. A win’s a win.

Grateful for every moment. An amazing chapter of life lived and there’s much more to be written. 🙏🏾 #STAYME7O pic.twitter.com/5u2XFSxJiv

— Carmelo Anthony (@carmeloanthony) September 5, 2025

Now, with his obvious HoF induction in the rearview mirror, the main question remains above MSG’s head: Was Anthony’s tenure in New York worthy of having his No. 7 lifted to the rafters?

Anthony’s New York run produced endless Knickstape highlight reels, six consecutive All-Star appearances, and more than 10,000 points in a Knicks uniform. Melo sits top 10 in several franchise categories, including three-pointers made and total scoring. That said, Melo also endured constant roster turnover—some of it because of his stubbornness to join NYC a few months ahead of time—and four head coaches, reaching the second round of the playoffs just once.

The @Hoophall Class of 2025 inductees 👏

Welcome to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame! pic.twitter.com/gWj7VqCBXW

— NBA (@NBA) September 7, 2025

The Knicks have retired just eight numbers (10, 12, 15, 15, 19, 22, 24, 33, 613) with Patrick Ewing’s No. 33 the last to go up in 2003.

Again, do you think the Knicks will eventually raise Melo’s No. 7 to the MSG rafters?

Full Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025​

  • Carmelo Anthony (Player)
  • Dwight Howard (Player)
  • Sue Bird (Player)
  • Maya Moore (Player)
  • Sylvia Fowles (Player)
  • 2008 U.S. Olympic men’s team (Team)
  • Billy Donovan (Coach)
  • Micky Arison (Contributor / Executive)
  • Danny Crawford (Referee)

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...on-carmelo-anthony-is-finally-a-hall-of-famer
 
2025-26 Player Preview: Mitchell Robinson

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Defense wins championships. Almost every NBA champion has a capable defense. Take the 2025 Oklahoma City Thunder, who had a historically stingy defense in comparison to the league environment. While the Pacers pushed them to the brink in the NBA Finals, and they got a scare from Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets in the second round, they were a dominant force all season long:

I wanted to look into the age-old question by plotting the Top 20 relative offenses and defenses since 1980. Wild result displaying the exact same percentage on both sides of the ball.

Emphasizes just how dominant this 2025 OKC Thunder team was as well. pic.twitter.com/6zrOL4TbIk

— Bandit (@ballbandit17) July 1, 2025

Unfortunately, the Knicks will not have a top-shelf defense. That’s pretty impossible when your two offensive focal points, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, are two of the worst defenders at their positions (for one reason or another). Still, the team can manage to sit around 10th in defensive rating and be able to win it all, just like the 2021 Bucks and 2023 Nuggets, but they’ll need the few excellent defenders on the roster to be healthy.

Deuce McBride is a great point-of-attack defender, and OG Anunoby is one of the premier defensive wings in basketball, but the key to the Knicks’ defense could be in their oft-injured backup center, Mitchell Robinson.

There are many things that can be said about Robinson. He is the longest tenured Knick, he’s one of the best offensive rebounders in all of basketball, he gets injured too much, etc etc. The predicament the Knicks are in is that not only is Robinson one of the team’s most important players despite frequently missing extended time, but his contract situation is as murky as possible.

Mitchell Robinson had the lowest defensive rating of any Knicks player who played at least 200 minutes in the playoffs. In the regular season, he outpaced all but Cam Payne and Landry Shamet in defensive rating. Despite a minimal gas tank that limited how much the Knicks could lean on him in the playoffs, he had some of the most impactful minutes. He was a key force all postseason in slowing down the excellent Boston and Indiana offenses. In each of the last three postseasons, you could make the case that Robinson is one of the MVPs of series that the Knicks win. Cleveland in 2023, Philly in 2024, Detroit and Boston in 2025. His ability to shatter the will of opponents with his domination on the offensive glass is remarkable.

Still, there are concerns about Robinson beyond his frequent unavailability. Of course, despite what his offseason workouts say, there’s the fact that he’s attempted a grand total of two shots outside the paint in his career, making him a bad fit if the Knicks look to maximize offense with five-out spacing. He’s also still a horrific free-throw shooter, and although he appeared to be working on it and making improvements, he folded under the Hack-A-Mitch being endlessly used by Joe Mazzulla in the playoffs to limit his impact. He did make six in a row at one point, though.

However, the No. 1 thing that will define Big Mitch this season will once again be his health. If he can play in the ballpark of 60 games, something he’s done four times in his career, he’ll be ready for a larger workload when the games really count. The big issue is if he sustains a long-term injury that either threatens his postseason status or, for the third year in a row, limits his conditioning. His ankle injury in December 2023 and subsequent re-aggravation in the playoffs led to him playing just 48 games combined in the last two seasons. That’s just untenable.

This’ll be a big year for Robinson, but not for the fact that he can contribute to a real contender after finally having a healthy offseason. He’s due to hit unrestricted free agency next offseason after his eighth season in the orange and blue, and it’s not an easy decision for either side. The Knicks don’t have much financial flexibility, and with the second apron likely inevitable anyway, letting Robinson walk for nothing would be devastating. On the other hand, can they really pay the market rate for an impactful, but oft-injured big? What if he asks for another multi-year deal at a higher AAV than his last contract? Can they afford to say no? Is a trade on the table? These questions will define Robinson’s season.

Lastly, his role is in question. I called him our backup center in the opening, but he could be starting on Opening Night. Mike Brown hasn’t tipped his hand on how he would handle the starting five next season, but Robinson will be in contention with the incumbent Josh Hart, the aforementioned Deuce McBride, and maybe Guerschon Yabusele in certain looks. Of course, if he does start, he’d have the shortest leash of the bunch to keep him healthy. Is Ariel Hukporti more likely to see minutes in a double big system? We’ll have to wait and see.

Mitchell Robinson with OUTSTANDING defense… leads to a layup for Karl-Anthony Towns on the other end!

NYK on a 17-4 run in the 2Q on ESPN 👏 pic.twitter.com/TmKtT53rax

— NBA (@NBA) May 17, 2025

Alright, let’s set some goals. Robinson didn’t hit many of mine last year, but that’s partially because they slow-played his return to an extreme degree. I only have two of them, as the range of possible outcomes with him is smaller than most players, but I’d still love to see both accomplished:

Play 60 Games + Be Healthy for April​


Let’s avoid a long-term injury. That’s a goal for every player, but for Mitch, he badly needs a healthy season. In every sport, we see players repeatedly endure lower-body injuries and wonder when the breaking point will be. At some point, you just endure too much strain on your lower body, and it permanently hurts your athleticism. Think Giancarlo Stanton in MLB, who was a great outfielder with solid speed before his string of soft tissue injuries that began in 2019, which turned him into a DH and rendered him the speed of a senior citizen.

Robinson’s rookie year burst is already visually limited, but he has plenty left in the tank. For his sake, he doesn’t want to get any closer to the tipping point. Load manage him on back-to-backs, manage his minutes, keep him healthy.

Attempt a Three-Pointer​


I don’t care. Until I see it happen, I will keep asking him to do it. He has never attempted a three-point shot in his career. He has played, by far, the most minutes in the NBA without an attempt since entering the league. Hell, if you go back to 2003, Robinson has 1,000 more minutes than the next-closest player. I just want to see one. Do it in the fourth quarter of a game already decided. Thibs isn’t here anymore; he won’t yell at you for it, I promise.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...player-preview-knicks-nba-injuries-mike-brown
 
Knicks bring back Landry Shamet on one-year deal

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After weeks, and weeks, and weeks of speculation about who the Knicks would use their last veteran contract on, New York has finally decided on bringing back Landry Shamet on a one-year deal.

While the offseason rumor mill had the Knicks linked to other veterans, Shamet seemed like the safest, most obvious, and overall best option.

Free agent guard Landry Shamet has agreed to a one-year deal to return to the New York Knicks, his agent George S. Langberg of GSL Sports Group tells ESPN. Shamet stays with the Knicks for his 8th NBA season. pic.twitter.com/oFtvDcLIA4

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 11, 2025

Some names might’ve given the Knicks more upside, but many of them came with injury concerns, questions surrounding commitment, worries about fit, or just an overall uncertainty about whether they’d be happy taking on the role they would be opting into. For those reasons, and more, Shamet made sense to many fans. Not only were there apprehensions about signing the other available veterans, but in Shamet, the fans and the front office knew what they’d be getting: a reliable, no-frills player who can hit open shots, defend, and make winning plays.

The seven-year journeyman did get off to a rough start in his first season in New York due to a shoulder injury that sidelined him until the day before Christmas Eve. In his first 37 games as a Knick, he averaged just 3.9PPG, while shooting just 32.9% from three, and it was clear that he had lost a lot of the rhythm and confidence he had built up during the preseason.

But once he found his footing, he quickly became an unsung hero and a surprising fan favorite, making winning plays off the bench. In the final 13 games of the regular season, he averaged 10.9PPG on 48.5% shooting from the field, and 46.3% from three. And in the playoffs, he continued to play well by providing some extremely valuable high-energy minutes and knocking down some very timely shots.

With head coach Mike Brown, as well as bench players Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele coming in this year, it’s still unclear what kind of role he’ll have. But this seems like the right move for everyone involved.

The team brings back a player who already knows a lot of the players on the roster. Shamet, who made it clear that he was hoping for a return to the Knicks, gets his wish. And the fans get to welcome back a player they grew to appreciate more and more over the course of last season.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...cks-bring-back-landry-shamet-on-one-year-deal
 
Knicks sign Garrison Matthews to training camp deal

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It’s been two months since the Knicks made their initial moves in free agency, signing Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele to fill out their bench. With Clarkson signing a vet min and Yabusele inking a deal slightly below the taxpayer mid-level exception, the Knicks had just enough room to sign one more veteran to a deal before giving their final roster spot to a young player on a second-round contract.

After two months of speculation and rumors, the Knicks made two signings on Thursday, seemingly making it a competition for who gets the last roster spot. Shortly after bringing back Landry Shamet on a non-guaranteed deal, it was reported that sharpshooting wing Garrison Matthews would get a similar deal to compete with Shamet for that roster spot. The Knicks then signed former Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon on Friday, which lowers the odds that Matthews cracks the roster.

Matthews, who turns 29 in October, is a six-year NBA veteran, playing for the Wizards, Rockets, and Hawks. The 6’5” wing out of Lipscomb has been known for one thing over the years: being a dynamite shooter. Over the last two seasons with the Hawks, Matthews had averaged six points in 16.1 minutes a game while shooting 42.4% from the field and a blistering 41.4% from three.

The Knicks already boast two high-volume corner 3pt shooters in the starting lineup and have Deuce McBride as a solid catch-and-shoot option, but Matthews can stake a claim as the very best in basketball. Last season, he led the NBA with a 58.0 corner 3% in 69 attempts.

Garrison Mathews is the crown jewel of free agency https://t.co/LExuKvfdwD pic.twitter.com/rJFzGQXwVb

— Owen Phillips (@owenlhjphillips) July 31, 2025

His path to a roster spot is going to be complicated. Shamet absolutely has supporters in the building after a good playoff run last season, and now that Brogdon is in the fold, he feels like a long shot. Maybe this is a move to get him in Westchester as emergency depth, similar to T.J. Warren and Chuma Okeke last season? We’ll have to wait and see.

If the Knicks want to keep two of the three players that they picked up in the last 36 hours, they’ll have to make a move. The cost to sign two more vet mins would be $4.6 million, which is $900,000 more than the Knicks can spend. They could trade, say, Tyler Kolek for no returning salary and open up room to sign two veterans and narrowly dip under the cap after signing a 14th player to the second-round exception.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...son-matthews-training-camp-nba-shamet-brogdon
 
Knicks sign Malcolm Brogdon to one-year deal

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The Knicks have added another vet to their bench. As first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, free-agent guard Malcolm Brogdon has agreed to a one-year deal with New York, giving Mike Brown a reliable secondary ballhandler and a calm late-clock decision-maker.

Free agent guard Malcolm Brogdon has agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Knicks, agent Sam Permut of Roc Nation tells ESPN. Entering his 10th NBA season, the former Sixth Man of the Year gives the Knicks key backcourt depth and reserve playmaking. pic.twitter.com/JyVAywF2gj

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 12, 2025

Brogdon is more surgical than splashy. Across nine NBA seasons, he’s averaged 15.3 points, 4.7 assists, and 4.1 rebounds, toggling comfortably between on-ball creation and space-and-shoot duties. His mantle includes a Rookie of the Year trophy (2017) and a Sixth Man of the Year award (2023), and he could provide top-level playmaking to New York’s second unit.

If Brown wants clean offense without sacrificing defense, Brogdon is a good option. He thrives in pick-and-roll, makes the simple read, and punishes lax defenses with catch-and-shoot threes. He can run the secondary offense, share the court with starters as an off-guard, and won’t screw the team in late, close-game situations.

The question with Brogs is availability. He missed significant stretches in recent years, so the key will be role definition and workload management. The best strategy is to keep his minutes purposeful, surround him with shooting, and let his tempo govern the bench. If he’s right physically, he raises the floor on random Tuesdays and the ceiling in tight fourth quarters.

Brogdon’s path (Milwaukee, Indiana, Boston, Portland, and Washington) has tested him in different systems. His game has scaled along the way. The Knicks sure could have used him last season!

With Landry Shamet returning on a one-year deal, Jordan Clarkson signing this summer, and Deuce McBride chomping at the bit, New York suddenly has real competition for secondary guard minutes. Training camp should sort out the roster, but Brogdon’s on-ball chops give him a path to consistent run as the second unit’s organizer and situational closer.

According to Ian Begley: “Malcolm Brogdon’s deal with the Knicks is non guaranteed, per source familiar with the matter. He will obviously get strong consideration for roster spot. Landry Shamet will also get strong consideration for the spot. If Knicks don’t make a trade, they will have to choose between the two vets.”

Malcolm Brogdon’s deal with the Knicks is non guaranteed, per source familiar with the matter. He will obviously get strong consideration for roster spot. Landry Shamet will also get strong consideration for the spot. If Knicks don’t make a trade, they will have to choose between…

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) September 12, 2025

If the body holds up, this is a sharp piece of business. Brogdon provides Brown and the ‘Bockers with a trustworthy veteran playmaker off the bench. Paired with Jordan Clarkson (if they’re both feeling their oats), we could have an exciting dynamic duo to plug in when the starters are resting. Now, I’ll need to remember it’s Brogdon and not Brogdan . . . and I’m still practicing Guerschon Yabusele. . . . This could be a rough season for P&T editors.

Welcome aboard, Malcolm!

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/knicks-news/73515/knicks-sign-malcolm-brogdon-to-one-year-deal
 
Who will take the Knicks’ final veteran roster spot?

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After much discussion over the past few months about how to shape the back end of their roster, the Knicks responded with a flurry of signings over the past 24 hours.

All of a sudden, we have a bit of a roster crunch on our hands.

The Knicks have room to sign just one player to a veteran minimum heading into the season. Instead of making their choice now, they invited three players to training camp on non-guaranteed deals.

First, the Knicks brought fan-favorite Landry Shamet back to Tarrytown.

After spending much of the regular season on the bench, Shamet endeared himself to New Yorkers everywhere, putting forth multiple inspiring playoff performances, capitalized by consistent shooting and strong defense.

REMEMBER THE TIME LANDRY SHAMET STEPPED UP IN AN ELIMINATION GAME@IQfor3 pic.twitter.com/GxipIExT9u

— The Strickland (@TheStrickland) May 30, 2025

He contributed to winning postseason basketball, and did so as a Knick. There’s an argument to be made that he has the upper hand here simply because of his familiarity with the organization.

Unfortunately for him, former Rookie of the Year & Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon signed a one-year, non-guaranteed deal with New York as well. Oh yeah… he’s also a member of the 50/40/90 club.

Brogdon is 32 years old and brings just about everything you could want in a backup point guard to the table for the Knicks. He’s a great defender, strong facilitator, and an absolute marksman from deep. He’s well-seasoned too, having appeared in 43 career playoff games, and could provide a steady veteran presence to the Knicks’ second unit.

Just two years ago, he was dicing teams up in the playoffs on the Celtics.

His biggest mark against him? Health. Brogdon played a combined 63 games over the last two years, battling through various injuries. He’s the best player on this list when he’s available, but it’s something to keep in mind.

Finally, Garrison Mathews got a training camp invite, and he’s a bit of a wild card on this list who could make things messy if he overperforms.

Mathews has been in the league for six years. He’s got a quick trigger and might be the best shooter in any room he walks into. The Lipscomb alum shot 41.3% across his last three seasons for Atlanta, and he’s got great energy on the offensive side of the floor.

He doesn’t do much else at a high level besides shoot – but hoo boy, can he ever shoot.

If he catches fire in training camp or the preseason, he could make the Knicks’ decision a bit harder than it needs to be. He’s the odd man out heading into this battle, but don’t count him out altogether.

All of these deals have people questioning another player’s roster security heading into training camp: Tyler Kolek.

Kolek didn’t get much of a shot last year under Coach Thibs and didn’t quite live up to Summer League expectations. Is the stage being set for a trade heading into the season?

Tyler Kolek is a potential trade candidate for the Knicks, and they’ve already received an offer from another team, per @krispursiainen

“Jalen Brunson, Miles ‘Deuce' McBride, and new additions in Jordan Clarkson and Brogdon would give the team depth at guard. This could logjam… pic.twitter.com/gfh13iBIRA

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 12, 2025

It’s a great problem to have for the Knicks, as all guys can contribute to winning ball, but it’s a problem nevertheless. At least one guy on this list will help the Knicks win games this year. The jury’s still out on whether there’s potential for another.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...ill-take-the-knicks-final-veteran-roster-spot
 
Knicks bring back sharpshooter on non-guaranteed training camp deal

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The New York Knicks are bringing back Matt Ryan on a non-guaranteed deal ahead of training camp, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post.

Matt Ryan has signed a deal with the Knicks and will join them at training camp, the Post has learned.

Ryan played 19 games last season was the Knicks.

— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) September 16, 2025

Ryan, 28, spent part of last season with New York, appearing in 19 regular-season games after initially signing a non-guaranteed contract before he was switched to a two-way deal on Christmas Eve. Ryan was waived on March 1.

Across those appearances, Ryan logged just 68 minutes, scoring 28 total points and grabbing eight rebounds, largely in late-game situations, and averaging 1.5 points and 0.4 boards per game (on 3.6 minutes per game, mind you) throughout his brief stint with the Knicks.

We all know Ryan at this point, and we all know he’s a good perimeter shooting—full stop. He’s hit 40.2 percent of his career three-point attempts since entering the league in 2022, but if he hasn’t solidified himself in four years of NBA experience, that’s for a reason.

Ryan, on top of everything, is no longer eligible for a two-way contract, meaning he would need to secure a full roster spot to remain in New York, which, at this point and given the Knicks’ roster construction and recent moves, sounds unlikely at best, impossible at worst.

Landry Shamet, Malcolm Brogdon, and Garrison Mathews are among the players expected to battle for what could be only one standard roster spot if the Knicks do not clear space through a trade, which can’t be ruled out.

Tyler Kolek is a potential trade candidate for the Knicks, and they’ve already received an offer from another team, per @krispursiainen

“Jalen Brunson, Miles ‘Deuce' McBride, and new additions in Jordan Clarkson and Brogdon would give the team depth at guard. This could logjam… pic.twitter.com/gfh13iBIRA

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 12, 2025

Ryan might be a Westchester native and former Iona Prep standout who called playing for the Knicks a “unique circumstance” during his previous stint, but he’s far from a lock to make the cut.

Good luck, Matt!

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...pshooter-on-non-guaranteed-training-camp-deal
 
Knicks go from empty chairs to a full house in one day

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For weeks, the Knicks were the loneliest roster in the league: twelve players under contract, a couple of rumors, and a row of empty chairs. Training camp allows 21 bodies, and New York looked unprepared to fill their quota.

Ye of little faith. That changed yesterday when, in one furious paperwork spree, the front office rounded out the squad. Eleven players got inked, two were cut before their names were finalized, and the team reached its camp capacity.

The top-line additions are straightforward: Malcolm Brogdon and Landry Shamet bring veteran guard depth, while Alex Len adds size and a Mike Brown connection. Nothing says “roster balance” like carrying five centers, and it is sensible when one of those big men is injury-prone (cough-Mitch-cough).

The developmental tier features Tosan Evbuomwan, Mohamed Diawara, Kevin McCullar Jr., Trey Jemison III, Matt Ryan, and Garrison Mathews. Some of them will land two-way deals, others will end up in Westchester, but now every spot comes with real competition. Here are a few guys hoping to turn heads in camp.

Tosan Evbuomwan


A 6’8″ forward from Newcastle, England, Evbuomwan switched from football (the other kind) to basketball at 14. He starred at Princeton, where he scored 1,033 points, earned 2022 Ivy League Player of the Year award, and led a 2023 NCAA upset over Arizona. Undrafted, he played in Detroit’s system, had a coffee with Memphis in 2024, then signed with Brooklyn in 2025, averaging 9.5 points in 28 NBA games with a high of 22 against Utah. He stood out in the G League with outings like 39 points vs. Grand Rapids.

Mohamed Diawara


The 6’9″ Paris native rose through INSEP and Paris Basketball, earning 2022 Basketball Without Borders MVP and medals with France (U17 bronze, U20 gold). After loans to Poitiers and Cholet, he averaged 5.8 points and 3.1 rebounds in France’s top league, showcasing a 7’4″ wingspan and defensive versatility. Drafted 51st in 2025, he projects as a high-upside, switchable forward.

Kevin McCullar Jr.


At 6’7″, McCullar overcame injury at Texas Tech before transferring to Kansas, where he led the Big 12 in scoring as a senior (18.3 PPG) and finished 11th all-time in steals. A three-time Naismith DPOY semifinalist, he went 56th in 2024 and signed a two-way contract with New York. For the club, the sophomore could be a defensive stopper with connective offense if he has overcome his knee issues.

Trey Jemison III


The 6’10” center from Alabama transferred from Clemson to UAB, where he led Conference USA in rebounding. Undrafted in 2022, he bounced through Memphis, Washington, New Orleans, and the Lakers, flashing rebounding and rim protection with G League highs like an 18-board game vs. Osceola. He’s valued for his grit in the paint.

Matt Ryan


A 6’7″ sharpshooter and former Mr. New York Basketball, Ryan bounced from Notre Dame and Vanderbilt to a breakout year at Chattanooga. Undrafted in 2020, he worked delivery jobs before cracking the NBA with the Lakers, Timberwolves, and Pistons. Selected first overall in the 2024 G-League Draft by Westchester, he rejoined the Knicks twice in 2025. A career 37.5% three-point shooter, Ryan provides floor spacing.

Garrison Mathews


The 6’4″ Lipscomb legend (2,478 points) turned a handsome college career into NBA stints with Washington, Houston, Boston, and Atlanta, shooting 37% from deep across five seasons of limited action. A classic microwave scorer.

Alex Len


The 7’0″ Ukrainian center, drafted fifth in 2013, has logged 12 NBA seasons with Phoenix, Atlanta, Sacramento, Toronto, Washington, and the Lakers, averaging 6.7 points and 5.3 boards over 680 games. He played under Mike Brown in Sacramento, earning late-season minutes behind Sabonis. He joins the Knicks on an Exhibit 9 deal, potentially adding size and veteran depth to a crowded frontcourt.

Who ya like? Did you notice the trend of big men, too? One odd man out seems to be OAKAAKUYOAK Dennis Smith, Jr. He worked out for the team earlier this week but failed to stick, evidently.

Thus, after a long period of roster limbo, the Knicks now have a packed gym and some real contests on their hands. Bring on the gladiators!

Go Knicks.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...-from-empty-chairs-to-a-full-house-in-one-day
 
Knicks Bulletin: ‘I haven’t played 2K after that’

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If you think it’s been too long since the last edition of the Bulletin, you’re not wrong.

If you can’t wait for the start of the season — hell, the preseason or even training camp or, yikes, media day — well, you’re like me and we’re almost there!

Here’s what a couple Knickerbockers have publicly said of late.

"He was just some chubby guy…we picked him 33rd…His go-to was a spin or move to the left & he'd fall away & never got the foul…Now his midrange is money…That's what you don't know when you draft…mental capacity…will they work hard to improve"

– Mark Cuban on Jalen Brunson pic.twitter.com/4wYCMrOgFN

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) September 11, 2025

Jalen Brunson


On team chemistry and continued improvement:
“I think we’ve been taking steady steps every year. The best part about our team is the chemistry we’ve grown and we’ve created. A lot of people help us on this journey, and to be able to be where we are now, it’s nothing to be satisfied about. Hopefully we don’t have that mindset going into the season where we think we’re just going to jump back into the Eastern Conference Finals. We need to be able to go through this process again and continue to get better and the fight to get over that hump.”

On the importance of team unity after roster changes:
“It’s going to take all of us. It’s not going to take just one change or another small thing. It’s going to take all of us together to kind of put everything aside and pull together.”

On Karl-Anthony Towns’ impact on the Knicks:
“He’s been phenomenal for us, in the locker room has been great. On the court, he’s been great. The things that he’s been able to do in a short period of time being a Knick has been amazing. Having him as a teammate has been really fun. I think that gets overlooked how good of a teammate he is. Obviously, he’s a great player and what he does on the court. But the teammate he is and what he brings to the locker room for us is special. So I’m really happy to have him.”

On why Karl-Anthony Towns is a unique player:
“Don’t think you can compare him. He shoots the ball so effortlessly, and he can make plays. He has great touch around the rim, so he’s pretty much his own person. He picks different games of styles of basketball, and kind of makes it into his own.”

On learning from playoff experience:
“I think our process and everything we’ve been doing going forward has been great for us. It’s been a great test, having learned. Everyone says, ‘Oh, you need to get experience.’ Well, this is us getting experience. This is literally us going through the trials and tribulations of being a good team. So continue to do that and just find a way to see what can we do to get over that hump.”

On personal goals vs. team success:
“All my personal goals are team-based. If everyone’s able to feed off that, that’s all I’m worried about. I’m not really worried about anything that benefits me solely if it doesn’t help us to get where we’re going.”

On not being a big NBA 2K fan:
“I’m not a big video game player and I’m not a big 2K player. I’m very thankful for my rating, obviously. I’m in the 90’s. I think in my first year in 2K I was made right-handed. I haven’t played 2K after that.”

Deuce McBride just released a children’s book titled “Deuce: The Champion of Friendship” 🔥 pic.twitter.com/xGpqDf2fVj

— The Strickland (@TheStrickland) June 18, 2025

Deuce McBride


On what excites him about Mike Brown’s new system:
“I’ve talked to [Brown] a lot, and I think the big thing is just going to be a lot of player movement. He’s giving us the foundation, and we’re just going to work off of it. So I’m really excited to see all our creativity with each other that we’ve been working on these last couple months. Really excited to see where it takes us.”

On becoming a father and author at the same time:
“It was a crazy thing to put out a children’s book and then have my daughter be born really at the same time, lining up. But it means so much more, just the fact that she’s going to grow up with a dad who was able to do something like this. And hopefully have more books coming after this.”

On Kobe Bryant’s post-retirement impact:
“It’s kind of interesting because I really wasn’t a Kobe fan growing up. And then after he retired and started leaving a legacy off the court of giving back to the game, that’s when I really became more of a fan of his. Since I was younger, I always wanted to grow up and be a role model for younger kids. And I felt like doing a children’s book would be a good start in leaving a good legacy.”

On the reception of his book:
“We’ve had some people order pretty large amounts of the book, people at the public readings for their classrooms and for their schools. So it’s been pretty well received.”

On planning his next book project:
“I’ve started thinking about the next book and excited to see where the journey takes me.”

Put this in the Smithsonian. #STAYME7O pic.twitter.com/TnHoVntJBK

— Knicks Fan TV 🏀🎥📺🏁 (@KnicksFanTv) September 6, 2025

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/knicks-news/73584/knicks-bulletin-i-havent-played-2k-after-that
 
Depth will once again be a strength for the Knicks

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It wasn’t that long ago that the #1 thing the Knicks could hang their hats on was their depth.

Go back to the 2022-23 season. The team had a good starting lineup of Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett, Quentin Grimes, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson, but that lineup didn’t gel that much. It was the bench, consisting of Immanuel Quickley, Isaiah Hartenstein, Deuce McBride, Josh Hart, and Obi Toppin. They had two veterans on lucrative deals, Evan Fournier and Derrick Rose, as emergency depth.

The next season, although Toppin departed, the team grew stronger with the addition of Donte DiVincenzo. From 2022 through the end of December 2023, the Knicks were as deep as any team in basketball, albeit with a lack of high-end talent to seriously contend. It was on December 30, however, that the Knicks began to coalesce and try to take the next step by sacrificing depth for elite talent. Out went Barrett, Randle, DiVincenzo, Grimes, and even Hartenstein through free agency; in came OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Mikal Bridges.

Taking a sledgehammer to the depth was a necessary evil, but it also limited the Knicks’ ceiling in 2024-25. Predictably, Tom Thibodeau overused the starters with a lack of capable depth, and while the overuse didn’t backfire, the team would have few options when their starting five got predictable and turned into a negative lineup by the end of the season. Mixing in a healthy Robinson and McBride helped, but those lineups never gelled early because both battled injuries. Landry Shamet, Delon Wright, Precious Achiuwa, and Cam Payne filled in, but showed little aside from flashes.

"Yeah we here. F*ck you talkin bout"

–– Cam Payne to Dennis Schroder after Schroder pushes him down and Payne scores 9 of the Knicks 21 straight in the 4th pic.twitter.com/j7Ccx7hiiJ

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) April 20, 2025

Fast forward to mid-September. Training camp is about to begin across the league, and the only Knick to hit free agency last offseason that has a job is Shamet, who re-signed a week ago. The other three haven’t even secured a camp invite. That says something when the Knicks signed eleven people in about a week to fill their roster ahead of a preseason trip to Abu Dhabi. It would not be very hard to upgrade the depth from last season, but given their lack of resources, the Knicks did a great job.

They agreed to a veteran minimum contract with microwave bench scorer Jordan Clarkson after he cleared waivers to start free agency. Next, they inked forward Guerschon Yabusele to a two-year deal with the taxpayer mid-level exception. After two months of radio silence, they signed a small army to compete for the last roster spot(s), but ultimately, it’ll be between the incumbent Shamet and a valuable secondary ballhandler in Malcolm Brogdon. Even the two-way players have promise, as Tosan Evbuomwan and Trey Jemison III showed flashes last season of being able to fill in as emergency depth.

It really is night and day. Last year, you struggled to see how the Knicks could go beyond a nine-man rotation. There were nights that they had to go into their stash of unproven, not-ready rookies. This year, the Knicks will go in with a stable nine-man rotation with several options behind to mix and match.

We don’t know what Mike Brown will do with the starting lineup, but he has options. If he goes double big with Robinson alongside Towns, you could find spot minutes for second-year big Ariel Hukporti off the bench. If McBride starts, you could still use him in a variety of different lineups as a spot-up shooter that can share the floor and mask the defensive concerns of Brunson and Brogdon. He could even experiment with Yabusele as the fifth starter after his strong Eurobasket performance, and the team would have the depth to mix-and-match lineups.

Guerschon Yabusele 36 points and 6 threes vs Poland🐻 pic.twitter.com/SHnq0wEIbl

— Teg🚨 (@IQfor3) September 2, 2025

While the team isn’t perfectly fluid (example: Brunson will never share the floor with Clarkson, hopefully), they boast enough pieces to be able to run many different types of lineups.

You want defense? How’s a McBride, Bridges, Shamet, Anunoby, Robinson lineup sound?

Last possession of a quarter? You could see the big four and one of several offensive dynamos, depending on the situation.

Non-Brunson lineups? Brogdon can be the backup facilitator. If Mike Brown is creative enough with his rotations, he’ll be able to use Bridges and Anunoby in many different situations, staggering them to supplement lineups that feature substandard defenders. If Big Mitch is healthy, it’s even better.

The biggest problem in my mind is that this isn’t NBA2k. Players have egos, and the Knicks now might not have enough minutes to go around. My lone problem with signing a guy like Brogdon is that I struggle to come up with lineups that involve two of him, Clarkson, and Brunson. None of those guys are even average defenders, and when you add the possibility of KAT playing alongside them? Mike Brown is a great offensive mind, but I’m not sure sacrificing defense like this is the move.

Someone is gonna get upset with the lack of minutes. Prior to training camp last year, there were grumblings of a discontent DiVincenzo before the trade due to a likely reduced role. Veterans who sign short-term deals are always looking for an opportunity to parlay into a new payday. The Knicks need their big four to play a lot to get to where they need to go, so it’s not like they’ll be playing under 30 minutes a night.

Ultimately, it’s a blessing, not a curse. There’s a chance things could get messy down the road, but the moral of the story is that the Knicks have real depth again. If they can deploy it properly, there will be a variety of lineups that they can run and get experience with over the course of an 82-game season.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...obinson-brogdon-shamet-hart-clarkson-yabusele
 
2025-26 Player Preview: Jordan Clarkson

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Two seasons ago, just before the 2024 NBA trade deadline, I wrote a piece arguing why the Knicks should trade for Jordan Clarkson. The team needed depth and scoring off the bench, and I felt Clarkson’s game, along with his flashy personal style, was exactly what the Garden crowd would embrace. I wrote it with the utmost sincerity, with a touch of humor, but it ended up drawing more backlash than any article I’ve ever published. The comments came hard, targeting both Clarkson as a player and me for even suggesting the move.

The real reason the Knicks need Jordan Clarkson

Eighteen months later, I couldn’t be happier that he’s a Knick. Sure, he just turned 33 this past June, but his game hasn’t slowed down. I know there will be nights when he puts up 15 shots and can’t buy a bucket. But there will also be plenty of nights where he catches fire and becomes “Simply En Fuego.”

Over the past three seasons with the Jazz, Clarkson’s production has steadily declined. Just three years ago, he averaged nearly 21 points per game as Utah’s starting shooting guard. Since then, injuries have hampered his consistency, but when healthy he still provided valuable scoring punch, averaging just under 17 points in 28 minutes off the bench while shooting around 40% from the field over the past two seasons. It’s no secret that he wasn’t brought in for his defense, but if he can replicate his level of play on the offensive end, Clarkson could give the Knicks’ second unit the spark it has been missing since Immanuel Quickley’s departure two seasons ago.

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At 33, with injuries limiting him to just 153 games over the past three seasons, Clarkson comes with some risk. The Knicks acknowledged that by signing Malcolm Brogdon, adding another layer of backcourt stability. Brogdon isn’t expected to cut into Clarkson’s minutes, but if Clarkson ends up sidelined again, the Knicks now have reliable insurance.

While much of the Knicks’ rotation still carries question marks, whether among starters or role players, Clarkson’s expected role is certain for the time being. He’ll step in as the backup shooting guard, and fans can expect him to play roughly 25–30 minutes per game. Some nights he will drive us all mad, but I can also guarantee that there will be other nights that he becomes another Knicks fan favorite player.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/knicks-analysis/73382/2025-26-player-preview-jordan-clarkson
 
Knicks to work out three veterans as training camp approaches

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Eight days.

That’s how long until the Knicks have their media day before beginning their training camp the next day. Just eight days later, they’ll be in Abu Dhabi and take the floor for the first time in the preseason. That’s less than three weeks until Knicks basketball, albeit at noon on a Thursday in a foreign country.

Most of the Knicks’ roster and blueprint for success in the 2025-26 season is set, but the team still has plenty of openings on their training camp roster. Teams are allowed to carry up to 21 players on their camp roster, and the Knicks only currently have 15 players set (12 standard, 3 non-guaranteed contracts). Outside of them, they seem pretty likely to tender some sort of deal to bring Kevin McCullar Jr., Mo Diawara, and maybe even Dink Pate into camp for two-way consideration. That leaves three vacant spots, who can sign non-guaranteed deals and be easily waived before the start of the season.

As such, Leon Rose looks to fill that roster after already signing three veterans to non-guaranteed deals. Stefan Bondy of the New York Post revealed the Knicks intended to bring in Alex Len, Trey Jemison III, and former Knick Dennis Smith Jr. in for workouts and potentially a spot on the training camp roster.

Sources: Knicks working out DSJ this weekhttps://t.co/UnEqxP0Rl7

— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) September 15, 2025

There’s value in bringing these guys in. Clearly, at this stage in the offseason, they’re just willing to get onto a training camp roster as teams fill their guaranteed roster spots. While not all of the veterans that won’t make the roster will stick around after, it’s reasonable to assume that one or more could wind up spending time with the team’s G-League affiliate, similar to T.J. Warren and Chuma Okeke last season, and be around if needed.

Len, drafted fifth overall back in 2013, is a 12-year veteran center who’s played for the Suns, Hawks, Kings, Raptors, Wizards, Kings, and Lakers. Len is a clear fit for this workout, spending 2.5 seasons in Sacramento under Mike Brown before the coach was fired and Len was bought out, spurning the eventual Eastern Conference champion Pacers for the Lakers, who saw him as so unplayable towards the end that they willingly let Rudy Gobert run around like prime Shaq in the first round. He has career averages of 6.7 points and 5.3 rebounds on 51.0% from the field and 32.3% from three (although on limited attempts).

Jemison III, undrafted in 2023 out of UAB, debuted with the Wizards in January 2024, playing a grand total of 89 seconds before signing on as a fill-in on the utterly decimated 2024 Memphis Grizzlies, who’s comical amount of injuries resulted in G-Leaguers like Jemison start 14 games. He would play 38 games in 2024-25 with the Pelicans and Lakers, as the 6’11” big man showed an ability to be capable emergency depth, averaging 4.2 points and 3.8 rebounds on 55.2% from the field over 63 games with the four teams.

Lastly, Smith Jr. is a familar face. DSJ was picked in the first round by the Mavericks in 2017, a pick that led to the Knicks being mocked for passing on him for Frank Ntilikina (neither panned out). Of course, DSJ fell out of favor after 1.5 years and the emergence of Luka Doncic, resulting in him being shipped to New York as the centerpiece for Kristaps Porzingis.

He would only play 58 games over parts of three seasons, occasionally wowing with his athleticism, but ultimately disappointing. He averaged 8.7 points, 3.7 assists, and 2.4 rebounds on ghastly 37.9/28.4/55.6 shooting splits. His 44.0 TS% as a Knick is ridiculously bad. The only player with a worse TS% in the last decade over a full season is 2015-16 Emmanuel Mudiay (coincidentally DSJ’s eventual teammate here). That’s not good! He did participate in the dunk contest once, though.

Ultimately, he fell out of favor and was banished from the rotation once Tom Thibodeau arrived in Tarrytown. Smith would play just three games in the 2020-21 season before the Knicks traded him to Detroit on February 8 for Derrick Rose, one of Leon Rose’s best moves as the team’s President of Basketball Operations. He would bounce around the league from there, playing for the Pistons, Trail Blazers, Hornets, and Nets before going overseas for the 2024-25 season. He would only play four total games for Real Madrid before parting ways in February.

I’d be shocked if any of these guys made the Knicks’ roster. Maybe in a pre-CBA world, they’d have a shot but the Knicks being so perilously close to the second apron means they can only roster one. Even if they make a move, it’s two at best, and you’d assume Landry Shamet and Malcolm Brogdon would be first in line.

But hey, more the merrier!

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...-len-trey-jemison-dennis-smith-brogdon-shamet
 
Knicks fill two-way roster spots ahead of training camp

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The Knicks made a million and one moves this week, filling out their training camp roster with a plethora of Exhibit 10 and Exhibit 9 deals. Amidst the flurry of Twitter notifications, I’ll forgive you if you missed the Knicks filling out all three of their two way roster spots along the way. But fill them they did.

There’s one familiar face and two Knicks newbies. Let’s take stock of who’ll split time between the Garden and Westchester this season.

Kevin McCullar Jr.

Last year’s 56th overall pick, McCullar’s rookie year on the Knicks was undermined by injury troubles. After a strong college career that finished up at Kansas, McCullar suffered a bone bruise down the stretch of his senior season. He subsequently missed Summer League and the majority of the season, only appearing in 13 games for the Westchester Knicks. Despite ramping back up to game speed, he played superb down the stretch, capitalized by back-to-back 20+ point triple doubles in March.

He kept the good play up this July, shining as one of the featured players at this year’s Summer League. After a 30-point performance in his second game, the Knicks were impressed enough to shut him down for the duration of the event.

His play was enough to convince the front office that he deserved another crack at a two-way deal, and New York put pen to paper earlier this week.

.@nyknicks Sign Kevin McCullar Jr. to a Two-Way Contract pic.twitter.com/mqOwQ7KkpS

— NY Knicks PR (@NY_KnicksPR) September 16, 2025

It’ll be exciting to see if McCullar can ultimately contribute with the parent club this season.

Trey Jemison

Jemison is an imposing 25-year-old center, measuring in at 6’11”, 260. He’s been a transactions report sweetheart, already playing for the Wizards, Grizzlies, Pelicans, and Lakers in his two years as a pro. The Knicks are his fifth team already, and he’s hoping he can stick in New York.

Jemison has appeared in 63 NBA games to this point, averaging 4.2 points and 3.8 rebounds a game. He’s a good vertical threat on both sides of the floor, and his rebounding chops make him a solid backup big candidate in the league.

For more on him:

If (and when) the Knicks center rotation gets banged up over the course of the year, Jemison could step in and provide decent plug-and-play minutes off the bench. It’ll be interesting to see his development over the course of the season in Westchester.

Tosan Evbuomwan

Evbuomwan is a versatile 24-year-old, a 6’8”, 220 lb forward, known for his offensive versatility and scoring chops.

The Princeton graduate burst onto NBA radars, starring for the 15-seed Tigers in the 2023 edition of March Madness, and also arrives in New York well-traveled. Most recently, Evbuomwan averaged 9.5 points per game for the Brooklyn Nets, showing flashes of consistent NBA production.

His strong three-point shooting at the G-League level hasn’t translated to the NBA – yet. If he can get his shot going like he knows he can, he could be a lock to get minutes at the highest level (even if not ultimately with the Knicks).

Obviously, it remains to be seen if he can play a role for the Knicks this year, but, interestingly, New York filled out the end of its roster with two older players with NBA experience.

The message is clear: the time to win is now.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...l-two-way-roster-spots-ahead-of-training-camp
 
If Jalen Brunson pulled a Kawhi Leonard, I’m done with the Knicks

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As Ballmergate continues to leak new details daily — or, depending on your stance, KawhiGate or UncleDennisgate — there is a growing sense the scandal is a $28 million canary in a big ol’ expensive coal mine called the NBA.

Some sports fans want to forever segregate the games they love from politics, social justice or anywhere people are suffering who shouldn’t be. If you’ve read me before, you know I don’t. A well-meaning work comrade once defended me after someone complained about my mixing of mediums. “Anyone who’s ever read Miranda knows he always brings politics into his sportswriting.” They meant well, but that’s never how I’ve thought about it.

We live in a world of constantly intersecting worlds. To write about people, period — athletes or otherwise — as if they exist in a vacumn apart from the rest of us is a child’s fantasy. Some people are rich enough to never give a damn. Not me, and never mine. I don’t add politics to the mix. It was always already there.

When Pablo Torre broke the news that former employees at the now-defunct Aspiration claimed Leonard was given a $28 million no-show endorsement deal to circumvent the salary cap, I thought “They’re def guilty, they’re too rich and powerful to get in any trouble, and Adam Silver is the owners’ mouthpiece incarnate. Ballmer’s the richest owner in the league. They’ll kill this story off in a week or so.” Turns out life has a funny, funny way . . .

This story matters, for so many reasons. The NBA’s latest collective bargaining agreement is a punishment pact its fans never asked for. The onset of free agency used to be as exciting a week as any in the NBA calendar. The dynamics at play as player power grew, most publicly via LeBron James in 2010 and Kevin Durant in 2016, offended the owners, i.e. dozens of billionaires used to floating above any and all concern in their bubbles of impunity. The fans — materially fundamental to the league, yet materially neglected by it — looooove free agency. Remember DeAndre Jordan and the emoji wars? This past offseason, the biggest player to switch teams was Myles Turner. The most suspenseful story has been Jonathan Kuminga and Quentin Grimes having staring contests with restricted free agency.

Whoopee.

Meanwhile, the league insists the new CBA is necessary to create more parity, insisting that’s what the fans want. Were you lucky enough to witness the 1960s Celtics? The ‘80s Celtics and Lakers? The ‘90s Bulls? The Shaq/Kobe Lakers? The Heatles? The Steph Warriors? You know what the reaction was as those teams ascended. Excitement. Tension. Drama. Could anyone knock them off their perch? If not, where did they stack up historically?

Not only does dismissing dynasties ignore the essential work 60 years of non-parity did making the league into what it is, what an insult to the legacies of teams like the Minneapolis Lakers, the Dr. J 76ers, Don Nelson’s Bucks, the ‘90s Knicks, the Rasheed Wallace Trail Blazers and the James Harden/Chris Paul Rockets. That’d be like applauding over-stressed, exhausted hospital workers in the early days of a terrifying, death-spiraling pandemic, only to have more and more children dying of treatable diseases like measles and whooping cough because too many too-comfortable people think science is black magic. Ignore the past and it rises up like bile in your throat.

When you’re on your deathbed, you think the Raptor-Laker-Buck-Warrior-Nugget-Celtic-Thunder one-and-done era of champions is gonna appear in the parade of life memories flashing before your eyes? (I included the Thunder ‘cuz the Knicks are winning the title this year, natch).

In politics and in sports, fuck-you money has become an infestation. The NBA insists, in spite of all evidence to the contrary, that fans want parity rather than dynasties; whatever profits came from those olden days is old money. Herb Simon may be 90 years old but he’s still alive, so his money’s new money and new money’s the money that talks. The only sport that’s never had a salary cap is MLB. The three that do, those paragons of fairness and enlightenment? All have significantly cut the players’ share of the revenue split after instituting a cap: since the NHL did in 2005, the players’ share is down from 57% to 50%; since the NBA’s cap in 1984, it’s 57% to 51%; the drop is steepest in the NFL, whose cap came in 1994 — 64% to 48% today.

NBA fans have always loved dynasties, whether rooting for them, against them or just marveling at the spectacle. We know adding a cap guarantees less money over time for the players. It doesn’t benefit the fans. It doesn’t benefit the players. It benefits those with the fuck-you money. Ballmer keeps testing the limits of whatever standards of credulity we still claim to cling to, even as Torre continues to overhand smash every weak defense the Clippers have lobbed. Ballmer’s obscenely wealthy, even among the obscenely wealthy. If anyone might wager his moneybin’s big enough to lie and buy all the justice he needs, it’d be Ballmer. And the league would help. At least he hasn’t poured gas on the controversy by saying Magic Johnson having HIV means he’s no hero. Ballmer’s their boy.

James Dolan is not. So when a friend messaged me tonight “Did you hear about Pablo Torre looking into the Brunson contract?” . . . you know when theatres decorate with masks showing one laughing face and one crying? It me. When your team is finally legit for the first time since pre-9/11 yet their owner is channeling his inner Al Davis, often being the lone turd in his billionaire brothers’ punch bowl, you can’t help but laugh, and cry, and repeat.

When Ballmer took over in L.A., he succeeded an unholy and barely sentient amalgam of Theoden’s dementia (before Gandalf breaks the spell) and Donald Trump’s racism, sexism and aura of sleaze. Most importantly to the league, the Clippers were a trainwreck under Sterling for 30 years. Ballmer is the richest boss in the Association and the Clippers have posted 14 straight winning seasons, most of them 50-plus wins (or that pace during COVID-shortened seasons). Ballmer may violate the one thing the league insists is its competitive line in the sand, but he can simply build them a new beach, one with no cumbersome accountability to worry about. Look to your left. Look to your right. It’s happening all over.

I don’t know any Clippers fans — I don’t think I ever have. I suspect any rule-breaking and lying on Ballmer’s part means less to many of them than their team being a model of stability and success that finally has its own arena — the one hosting this year’s All-Star Game. There is this bizarre, vocal minority of usually younger Knick fans who’ve Stockholm Syndromed themselves into thinking Dolan is some unfairly targeted scapegoat, but I imagine a supermajority of Knick fans would not halt their stride if they heard Lucky Sperm Jim were in hot water.

But Brunson? I can’t go there. I can’t. I won’t. If it turns out Brunson worked with the Knicks to arrange some kind of off-the-books salary cap shenanigans, I’m done. I’m out. Maybe because it’s scummy. Maybe more for lying about it while accepting so much praise for lying about it. If they’re lying. Which maybe they’re not?

The most disappointing movie I’ve ever seen was House of 1000 Corpses. Spoiler: it is not an uplifting film. Spoiler II: it ends with a girl who’s been kidnapped, imprisoned and tortured all throughout finally escaping. She finds a road and is walking down it when she flags down a passing car. If I remember correctly it’s a cop? She tells him everything that happened to her, and her friends — all of whom are dead — and he tells her to get in. When she does, he drives her right back to the house. Turns out he’s in on it too. Fuck that. I can live without light. What I can’t live without is hope.

Jalen Brunson hasn’t just been the Knicks’ best player the past three years. He hasn’t just scored a lotta points or thrown some nice dimes. I don’t know if the Knicks will ever win it all with him leading the way. I’d love that, but I don’t need it. Brunson’s already done enough that I dreamed of seeing and feeling but never thought possible. Take his public face as the Knick captain.

Patrick Ewing had a mixed relationship with the public. Sometimes he could be aloof in interviews. He could sound — or be portrayed as having sounded — like he wanted to be both left alone and adored by the very same fans he didn’t seem to adore. I couldn’t stand when he’d be interviewed after losing to Chicago and insist every time that the Knicks were the better team. The first time, I was 13 and thought he was a prophet, ahead of his time. The next time he said it, I thought, “That’s leadership. He’s keeping them motivated.” Eventually, it can’t not sound like what it is: delusional. Could be a Georgetown thing; Alonzo Mourning lost to the Knicks three years straight and swore each time from the losing locker room that the Heat were the better team.

Carmelo Anthony was too cool for school, which is cool when you’re the scoring champ leading your team to its first only good year in over a decade. When that one year is the only good year you lead them to, the grace the fans and media extended starts to shrink. I do think athletes like Melo are easy to paint as selfishly caring about their personal interests more than the team’s needs, not because they’re inordinately selfish — how many of you honestly care more about your performance at work than everything else in your life? — but because there’s more money and more media than ever. We have a greater understanding of what athletes can indulge in and more coverage of that indulging at the exact same time that more and more of us don’t have enough of what we need.

Brunson winning next year’s slam dunk contest would surprise me less than learning he agreed to an off-the-books end-around, that someone whose father made more than $5 million playing ball, who himself earned that much in Dallas before signing a $104 million deal with the Knicks, then extending for another $156 mil, whose seeming selflessness earned him all the praise and adulation and faith of a long-suffering fan base that’s collectively mentally ill after waiting so long through so much ugliness for a reason to hope . . . lied about it? All because the world and everything in it is still not enough?

Everything Brunson says and does suggests this is the guy. He’s Him. We cycled from one false messiah through another over the years before a miracle occurred. And yet if it turns out there’s fire where there’s smoke, it’s a bridge too far for me. I’ll thank the ‘bockers for all the memories and be on my way.

I used to be an NFL fan — Jets and Giants. I stopped following both around 2012. There was nowhere for me to turn as a fan and not feel gross. The owners would give their own mothers CTE if it meant higher profits. The media covering the sport grew increasingly docile and hands-off as they went from covering the league to partnering with it (Pablo Torre writes for The Athletic, not ESPN or NBC; if he worked for one of the NBA’s media partners, does this story ever see the light of day?). The players had bigger problems with the possibility of a gay teammate than one who beat and rapes women. Sayonara.

I’ve always thought I sensed something different about Brunson, an obvious and brilliant intelligence. Maybe I did. Maybe I projected what I wanted to see. Maybe he’s a slick actor; maybe he’s the real deal. But the NBA is supposed to be entertaining. It’s supposed to be a diversion from *gestures at a burning world*. It’s supposed to feel good, be fun.

Millions and millions and millions and millions of people within these borders are less safe than they used to be. Some are my family. My friends. My former students. One is me. The rapists and the racists and the eugencists are all having a moment while the money keeps funneling up and the pain keeps pouring down. At the heart of it is the same genocidal illogic that’d explain Brunson and Dolan, the son of a millionaire and the son of a billionaire, cheating — that the only thing those who have it all long for is more.

In a time when more and more of us make do with less and less, I can’t write a possible Brunson scandal off as just “business as usual.” Business as usual is killing us all. I can’t deal with it killing the Knicks, my favorite escape, finally being good. Say it ain’t so, Jalen. C’mon, man.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...ulled-a-kawhi-leonard-im-done-with-the-knicks
 
40 Questions Knicks fans will want to ask on Tuesday’s Media Day

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For most of the NBA, Media Day isn’t until late September. But for New York Knicks fans, this particular Christmas-like event will come earlier this year.

Given that New York is among the teams participating in this year’s Abu Dhabi preseason games, the Knicks will get an early start with Media Day scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 23.

For a fanbase that has been waiting more than half a century to celebrate a title, waiting 24 more hours to watch and hear their superheroes at the podium won’t hurt that much.

After a summer of minimal “chaotic” roster changes but a mammoth shift on the bench coming off the Knicks’ first taste of Eastern Conference Finals basketball in over two decades, the 2025–26 season starts right about now.

Media Day will allow us to see how the Mike Brown era begins to take shape, as Knicks fans will finally hear from the new honcho outside of his introductory presser, get a look at the team’s superstars from Jalen Brunson to Karl-Anthony Towns and everyone in between, and listen to the first words coming out of Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele’s mouths while clad in orange and blue threads.

Questions this time will matter more than ever as New York embarks on a legitimate title-or-bust season, and we cannot be more excited about it.


The First Words from the New Mike Brown Era


What should Knicks fans want to hear?

We’ve put together a list of potential Media Day questions we’d love to see answered. Use this as a checklist — and think about which players or staff you want to hear from, and what you’d like to hear them say.


The Roster: Fit, Flow, and First Impressions

  1. How is the chemistry going to work with a few new faces set to take on large second-unit roles?
  2. Will the leadership dynamic change with Tom Thibodeau gone?
  3. Who’s the loudest voice?
  4. Who’s setting the tone from the get-go, judging by their answers at Media Day?
  5. What’s the one word you’d use to describe this year’s team?

  1. How do Malcolm Brogdon and other backups see themselves fitting if they make the final roster?
  2. What does Jordan Clarkson bring to the Knicks other than #leaguefits?
  3. What role is envisioned for Guerschon Yabusele, and how much will he play early on?
  4. What’s the energy like in the locker room during the first hours together?
  5. Which new teammate surprised you the most when you first got to meet him?

  1. What part of the playbook are you picking up quickest after joining the Knicks?
  2. What feels most different about this camp compared to last year, if you were there already?
  3. Who do you expect to guard most in practice, and how can that help you?
  4. What specific offseason work did you focus on?
  5. Who’s the young player with the highest upside going into camp?

  1. What’s your biggest adjustment so far?
  2. How do you handle training camp so you arrive at the regular season at your peak?
  3. Who’s the funniest teammate around?
  4. Who will be playing DJ inside the locker room?
  5. What’s your biggest off-court hobby?

The Coaching Staff: Mike Brown’s Vision


With Mike Brown replacing Tom Thibodeau, the tone shift will be front and center.

  1. What defines a successful first year on the MSG sideline?
  2. What’s your top priority for training camp?
  3. How will you deal with accountability compared to Thibodeau’s demanding style?
  4. What’s the most important lesson you’ve carried into your first season with the Knicks?
  5. Which assistant coach will feature most prominently next to you?
  6. Will we see a 10-man-deep rotation this year?

  1. Will we see more ball movement and offensive focus, or will you instill a strong focus on defense first?
  2. What will be the defining defensive trait of this team under your guidance?
  3. What does the ideal pace of play look like to you?
  4. What’s the biggest change Knicks fans should expect stylistically?
  5. How will you manage the point guard minutes between Brunson and all backup options?
  6. How do you integrate offensive-minded players like Clarkson into your system?

The Front Office: Big Picture Moves


Fans deserve answers on the team’s vision, and although we know the Knicks FO will remain silent — and then some — there are a few questions to ask Brown and the players that might reveal some stuff.

  1. Why did you feel now was the time to move on from Tom Thibodeau?
  2. What role did player input have in the hiring of Mike Brown?
  3. How close does the front office believe this roster is to title contention in terms of pending moves to make?
  4. What’s the long-term vision for this core with the Knicks going absolutely all-in for the championship now?
  5. What’s your message to fans about the 2025–26 Knicks? Title or bust?


Media Day is the first checkpoint of the season and the first time this year we’ll get to watch and listen to our beloved Knickerbockers. So, what do you want to hear most?

Let us know in the comments section below:

  1. Which question above matters most to you?
  2. Who are you most excited to hear from on Media Day?
  3. Would you ask anything else to those present at Media Day on Tuesday?

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...ons-knicks-fans-cant-wait-to-ask-on-media-day
 
Knicks Bulletin — Media Day Spectacular: ‘If I don’t start, I’ll probably ask for a trade’

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Can’t believe my eyes, fam.

The New York Knicks gathered for the first time after an endless summer of nothing, answering all sorts of questions at Media Day before the squad gets training camp going this week and plays their first preseason game in Abu Dhabi in less than ten days!

Here’s everything we heard from Mike Brown and his pupils on Tuesday.

Mike Brown is asked about utilizing Jalen Brunson off the ball:

"The biggest thing I want to do for him is get easy shots. One of the easiest shots is a spray three…I'm a big proponent of touching the paint and spraying that basketball for a catch-and-shoot three" pic.twitter.com/ywzk3Z8CPY

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) September 23, 2025

Mike Brown


On playing time philosophy and his plan for the new Knicks rotation:
“I try to play as many guys as I can, man.”

On the Knicks’ roster construction and training camp competition:
“We feel like the group Leon [Rose] and his staff have put together is talented and deep. So you have to be methodical when it comes to declaring, ‘Hey, these guys are going to start.’ That will materialize throughout camp.”

On naming the starting lineup:
“It’s too early to lock in a starting lineup. We’ll let camp play out.”

On using Jalen Brunson off the ball:

utilizing Jalen Brunson off the ball:

“The biggest thing I want to do for him is get easy shots. One of the easiest shots is a spray three.

“I’m a big proponent of touching the paint and spraying that basketball for a catch-and-shoot three.”

On his expectations for the 2025-26 Knicks season:
“First thing, I don’t know if anyone has higher expectations than me. I love being in a position where you feel expectations.”

On how the starting lineup will look and who will make it:
“It will materialize throughout camp. I think it’s too early to go in and say hey, this is what’s going to happen. The roster, Leon did a fantastic job putting together a talented, deep roster, and so you have to be methodical with your approach when it comes to declaring, okay, these guys are going to start.”

On Mikal Bridges:

“His momma raised him right.”

Jalen Brunson: "We're gonna have a set of goals and we're gonna––"

(door opens)

Rick Brunson "Speak well son"

(door closes)

Jalen: "They shoulda took him too"

🤣pic.twitter.com/Bo8nkn5ltw

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) September 23, 2025

Jalen Brunson


On Tom Thibodeau’s firing:
“It’s sad to see a man I’ve known for a long time part ways with this organization. He’s meant a lot to me. I’ve expressed that to him publicly and personally. He’s meant a lot to my career up to this point.”

On recovering from last season’s conference finals loss:
“It took me a while. Obviously, you think about it. It’s always good to have short-term memory to focus on what’s going on ahead and figure out how you can be better. You can learn from the things in the past. But it’s definitely not something easy to just get over.”

On his ankle injury and his health entering training camp:
“No setbacks. I feel great.”

"I love it here. I love the fans, the culture, the staff, the front office, the teammates. That's probably the biggest thing.

Last year was tough throughout the season. Playoffs helped a little bit. But I can appreciate the fans and everybody.

A lot of people thought I might be… pic.twitter.com/G4wCLSDW58

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) September 23, 2025

Mikal Bridges


On taking less money to sign with the Knicks:
“I think if I came in here and preached how much I want to win then tried to take every dollar and make it difficult for the organization, I would be a fraud, and that’s not who I am.

“I love it here. I love the fans, the culture, the staff, the front office, and the teammates. That’s probably the biggest thing. Last year was tough throughout the season. The playoffs helped a little bit. But I can appreciate the fans and everybody.

“A lot of people thought I might be upset because they were getting on me a little too hard. But I think I was more mad at myself in the situation, because everything they want is what I want. It’s not like a, ‘Why y’all getting on me?’

“Some things can be a little too crazy, but that’s just life how it is. We all want the same goal.”

On last season’s conference finals loss:
“Getting that close and losing, no, it was not fun at all.

“Use that for fuel, take it day by day. Can’t get to June without going through all these other months.”

On Mike Brown’s offense:
“I played against those Sacramento teams and how fast they were –– it was not fun guarding those guys.

“We all know how to hoop, we all love each other, so just go out there, try to make the right read, and win games.”

On Tom Thibodeau’s firing:
“Anybody losing their job – I’m a human first, always – so I feel for somebody going through that. I always appreciated Thibs here, a great guy and everything. Always felt for him.”

On what was the best thing that happened to him this offseason:
“Spent a lot of time with my dog.”

Q: "Do you have a preference, center or power forward?"

KAT: "My preference is winning"pic.twitter.com/VaE2X4GuEf

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) September 23, 2025

Karl-Anthony Towns


On his reaction to being traded from the Timberwolves to the Knicks:
“Obviously, it stung. I called that place home for nine years. I’ve built my life there, I’ve had so many memories there. So, it’s kind of like that first breakup. It was tough.”

On his preference for the starting lineup:
“My preference is winning. That’s the only preference I got.”

On supposingly having a “knee procedure” during the summer:
“No, I did not have a knee–where are you hearing this? Who did that, Centel?”

On the vibes ahead of the upcoming season:
“It’s gonna be a fun year, man. We’ve got a great team. Everyone’s coming back feeling good about themselves.”

Josh Hart starts out an answer about willing to do whatever the Knicks need in regards to their starting lineup with a joke: "If I don't start, I'll probably ask for a trade" 🤣

He continues: "I had the best year of my career last year, but that's in the past. I think I'm a… pic.twitter.com/lkrkbM43py

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) September 23, 2025

Josh Hart


On playing through finger injury:
“I don’t want to go into too much detail, but obviously I got a procedure on it then kind of re-aggravated it somewhat recently. So I’ll probably just rock out with a splint this season and try to fix it again next summer.

“I don’t think about it too much. If I can’t play how I play, I’ll figure out a different path. But right now the full expectation is to go out and hoop. Then, end of the year — now I actually know what’s wrong instead of last year, realizing it’s worse than I thought. That said, I’ll be good.”

On Tom Thibodeau:
“I love Thibs and will always love Thibs. He put me in the position to be successful and get paid.”

On Mike Brown:
“Very excited about his addition.”

On the idea of not starting:
“If I don’t start, I’ll probably ask for a trade.”

On what he envisions as his role this season:
“I had the best year of my career last year, but that’s in the past. I think I’m a starter in the league. I think I deserve to be a starter in the league.

“But at the end of the day, it’s about what’s best for the team. Last year, I talked about sacrifice the whole time and being a good steward of my gifts and those kind of things.

“It would be extremely selfish for me to go out there and demand to start. Whatever Mike [Brown] wants to do, or doesn’t want to do, I’m cool with.”

On New York basketball:
“With all due respect to other places I’ve played, New York is the Mecca.

“People really wear their heart on their sleeves. They come to show love That energy is what makes you feel that difference. Everything’s better in New York.”

First Day of School 📸 pic.twitter.com/j66pacN8aU

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) September 23, 2025

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...-if-i-dont-start-ill-probably-ask-for-a-trade
 
Knicks Bulletin: ‘If he said that, then my idea already goes to thinking of Steph Curry’

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I acknowledge there might be repetition in today’s Bulletin.

My excuse: yesterday was a mad day for Knicks Nation, and we rushed to give you all of the coverage from Media Day as it unfolded, as quickly as we could following the wrapping up of the open-mic sessions.

Anyway, here’s everything I think was said yesterday after going through all the quotes and soundbites heard on Tuesday.

Mike Brown is asked about utilizing Jalen Brunson off the ball:

"The biggest thing I want to do for him is get easy shots. One of the easiest shots is a spray three…I'm a big proponent of touching the paint and spraying that basketball for a catch-and-shoot three" pic.twitter.com/ywzk3Z8CPY

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) September 23, 2025

Mike Brown​


On establishing a team identity and style at training camp:

“That will emerge as we make the decisions. But one thing we want to make sure we do offensively is we want to play fast, get the floor spaced — not just in the full court but in the half court, too — with a certain cadence. And then defensively, we want to be physical. We want to get people to feel us. And we want to do so without fouling. So those are two things at the forefront of what I’d like to get accomplished with this team.”

On helping Jalen Brunson and creating easier opportunities for teammates:

“He seems like he’s a versatile player. The biggest thing I want to do for him is try to get him — as well as everyone else — easy shots. And one of the easiest shots in the game of basketball is a spray three. I’m a big proponent of touching the paint and spraying that basketball for a catch-and-shoot three. Within what we do, we are going to try to give [Jalen] a lot of those situations.”

On Brunson embracing an off-ball role:

“We want [him] to keep moving. The little bit that we’ve seen so far from Jalen during these optional workouts, he seems like he’s embraced it. Because you have to be in great condition to play this way.”

On how to get a slow team to play faster:

“That’s the first thing. Tell them to be faster.”

On how pace begins with wing play, not point guard tempo:

“For us, the biggest thing is get to the corners. We got to have guys who are capable of getting to the corners quickly. If you have guys who commit to the corners — especially guys who can shoot the ball and make plays like we do on this team — then that’s going to flatten the defense. And it’s going to start the dominoes to fall. So we emphasize that.”

On playing time philosophy:

“If you look at what I’ve done in the past, it’s usually 9-and-a-half to 10 guys. I try to play as many guys as I can. Even when I was in Sacramento and we had an injury during the season, there was a point in time when I started a two-way guy in Keon Ellis. So I’m going to try to play who is going to help us win — and I’m going to try to get guys an opportunity. Hopefully, with as deep as our roster is, everybody will get an opportunity at some point in the course of the season.”

On embracing pressure and expectations:

“When you have a target on your back, you have to bring your best every time you step on the floor.”

Rick Brunson poked his head into Jalen Brunson's media availability. Jalen's response:

"They should've took him, too" 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/qN6h99AdYY

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) September 23, 2025

Jalen Brunson​


On adapting to a new role and style under Mike Brown:

“I made it work. I’ve always been in different roles throughout my career, even in college. When I lock in on a role, figure out how I’m going to be best with it I’ve done pretty well with it. So try to keep that same thing going.”

On accepting changes for the team’s success:

“Yeah, we’ve got to obviously be willing to adapt, be willing to change, figure how we’re going to be the best team possible moving forward. If you want to win you’ll do it. It’s that simple.”

Josh Hart talks more about needing to wear a splint this season:

"I hate playing with anything on my hands, I don't have a good feel for it. Might take a little getting used to, but that's the best scenario for me right now. I want to be out there with these guys." pic.twitter.com/9M0uUYd6Di

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) September 23, 2025

Josh Hart​


On questions still surrounding the team’s identity:

“I don’t really know, honestly. I think we are going to have to figure it out.”

On how playing fast could unlock the team’s potential:

“I think playing fast is gonna help us get to another level. When you got guys like Mikal and OG [Anunoby], who can play very good off the catch and getting them into transition and getting them into position where they can attack the basket and make plays. And then you got guys obviously like Deuce, who can attack the rim and knock down shots, it causes the defense to collapse, which gives Jalen and KAT more space. The ball finds energy. We do that, obviously it trickles into all other aspects: making sure defensively we’re there and communicating and those kinds of things. So, I think it’s gonna help a lot.”

On playing with a splint due to finger injury:

“I’m just trying to get used to it, and then get through the season with it. I don’t wanna go into too much detail, but I obviously got a procedure on it and then kinda re-aggravated it somewhat recently. So probably just rock out with a splint this season and try to fix it again next summer.”

On adjusting to the injury during the season:

“It’s something that a lot of people have it. I don’t think about it too much. I just try to go out there and play how I play, and if I can’t play how I play and be aggressive and kind of have that toughness mentality I normally play with, then I have to figure out a different path. But right now, the full expectation is to go out there and hoop and help this team be successful and at the end of the year — [maybe I will get surgery] when I have some downtime and I actually know what’s wrong instead of last year thinking it was one thing and then taking a break and getting back into basketball and it was worse than I thought. With that being said, I’ll be good.”

"It's gonna be a fun year, man. We've got a great team. Everyone's coming back feeling good about themselves"

– Karl-Anthony Towns pic.twitter.com/Bsv9h6BkOX

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) September 23, 2025

Karl-Anthony Towns​


On helping Jalen Brunson get better looks in the offense:

“If Mike has said that, then we’re going to have to do a better job of getting [Jalen] open. And in a way like Steph Curry, we’re going to have to go find ways to make it easier for him to get the ball in space and help him get clean looks at the rim. Again, I don’t know too much right now, but what I can say is if he said that, then my idea already goes to thinking of Steph Curry. How do we find ways to get him open with screens and movement that can help make it easier on him getting to the basket or shooting the ball?”

On what to expect from the team this season:

“I don’t know truthfully yet. But I know just for us, we just going to go out there, I can’t speak on that yet because I truly don’t know, but what I can say is that I know our team is unified and our team has the continuity needed to achieve great things and we showed that last year and we’re going to build off of that from last year to this year and put our best foot forward this year.”

On the team’s high expectations:

“I think last year showed us that we can do anything possible with our minds and we made the sacrifices and we’ve shown the world that we’re willing to sacrifice for the betterment of the team. So I expect nothing less than that this year. I feel our team is going to be even more unified. It’s going to have more continuity, a whole year together, an offseason obviously is going to give us a better understanding of each other and we understand the opportunity that’s in front of us.”

On his health and denying surgery rumors:

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Don’t put those words out there. I did not have finger surgery or knee surgery. No, I did not have a knee procedure. … Who [posted] that? [NBA] Centel?”

On what new additions bring to the team:

“I’ve played JC [Jordan Clarkson] for years [out West]. He’s a fierce competitor. Obviously we all know what he can do when he’s scoring the basketball. So he’s going to be a benefit for us — a huge benefit. And Guerschon, we’ve all seen what he can do. Biggest stages, he’s showed up. And those are two big additions to our team. I’m excited for this team. We have great depth. That gives us a chance to feel good about any part of the season — whatever the trials and tribulations, the ups and downs — we have a team that’s fully ready to go regardless of the situation.”

"Getting that close and losing, it was not fun at all. You can be more grateful, but our expectations are different. We use that for fuel…you can't get to June without going through all these other months. Worry about the now and get prepared."

– Mikal Bridges pic.twitter.com/gUqpR3YlAl

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) September 23, 2025

Mikal Bridges​


On why he took less money to stay with the Knicks:

“I think if I came in here and preached how much I want to win and tried to take every dollar and make it difficult for the organization, I’d seem like a fraud and that’s not who I am. I want to win bad, and whatever it takes.”

On prioritizing teammates getting paid over personal salary:

“I love all our guys here, so why wouldn’t I want the next man up who needs some money, why wouldn’t I give them an opportunity to get paid as well? So I think I’ve got a good amount of money. I don’t think a couple more Ms will change my life.”

On Jalen Brunson setting the tone with his own pay cut:

“Knowing Jalen and being around him, that’s the same thing — his mindset is wanting to win bad. Do whatever it takes to win, and he cares about his teammates, too, and is gonna make sure everybody eats in this situation.”

On re-signing with New York and his relationship with the fans:

“[I re-signed here] because I love it here. Love the fans, love the culture, love the staff and everybody, front office, everything, teammates. That’s probably the biggest thing. I know throughout last year, last year was tough throughout the season and the playoffs helped a little bit, but I think I just appreciate the fans and everybody. I think a lot of people thought I might be upset because everybody was getting on me too hard, but I think I was more mad at myself because everything they want was what I want. So it’s not like a ‘Why y’all gettin on me?’ Some things get a little too crazy, but that’s just life how it is.”

Fired

2025 ECF 2024 champs pic.twitter.com/MedKbVKaOH

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) September 23, 2025

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/knicks-news/73685/knicks-bulletin-xxxx
 
5 reasons John Hollinger is wrong about the 2025-26 Knicks

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In his annual projecting of five NBA teams who’ll finish below their projected win total, The Athletic’s John Hollinger included the New York Knicks. The line he used has them winning 53.5 games this season. Hollinger thinks they’ll win fewer.

He’s wrong. In like five different ways. Lemme show you, alternating his reasons with the appropriate counterargument. For free.

Hollinger: “The Knicks won 51 games last season with a coach (Tom Thibodeau) who is renowned for his willingness to totally disregard any bigger-picture ramifications in pursuit of wins in the here and now. And we’re saying, after replacing him, that they’ll win more regular-season games this season? The logic doesn’t compute.“

Clever girl, Johnnie! But sophisms don’t fly here at P&T. It’s true, Thibs loves winning the way we all wish somebody loved us — unconditionally, with total abandon. And yes, that led him to play five starters 35+ minutes per game, only the 10th time that’s happened in league history. But while dying in the name of love gets us right in the feels, a far greater love indeed is living for the one you love. Most coaches get fired for losing. Thibs got canned ‘cuz his way of winning is Pyrrhic.

Mike Brown’s got two 50-win seasons and two 60-win seasons under his belt as a head coach. He just led the Sacramento Kings, who are if Groundhog Day were about Fredo Corleone, to their best two years in 20. He isn’t any less driven to win than Thibodeau. Only now when the Knicks are up 25 with four minutes left in a game, he’s not gonna leave ‘em in another three and a half minutes. Ideally, Brown translates into winning smarter, not harder — or less.

Hollinger: “Yes, the Knicks’ top seven players are good and the East is weak, but New York was also mostly healthy last season (Mitchell Robinson being the main exception); the five starters missed a total of 40 games.”

First, can we not just gloss over the first two truths he rushes past? The Knicks’ top seven players are good. They were last season when none of them Towns arrived like five minutes before training camp and had never played with Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby or Mikal Bridges; Bridges had college experience with Brunson and Hart but no professional history with any of them. They were new to each other and still managed to win 51 games learning on the job.

And need I remind you — stop me if you’ve heard this one — the Knicks went 0-10 a year ago against the league’s three winningest teams. One of those teams doesn’t exist anymore, in Boston, so that’s 2-4 wins the Knicks figure to add this time around. It’s difficult to sweep a really good team 4-0 two years in a row, so if for no other reason than probability it’s safe to say the Knicks don’t lose every game they play against Cleveland this season (winning on opening night would take care of it!). And the Thunder . . . are still really gosh darn good. The Knicks could definitely lose both games against OKC again. Still, they should pick up a decent haul by improving their record against the Celtics and Cavs.

Orlando should be better, and possibly Detroit. The Knicks were 3-1 last year against the Magic, 1-3 against the Pistons. I don’t see them losing much ground there. Who else in the East are we talking about? The Bucks? The 76ers? The Hawks? New York went 7-0 against the first two, 3-2 against Team Trae. You see them dropping from 10-2 to 6-6 against them? Since when is Myles Turner Bill Russell? Since when do the Sixers know what they’re doing? Mr. Young’s carriage turned into a pumpkin four years and he hasn’t been back to the big-time since. The top of the East isn’t going to beat the Knicks up any. As for the bottom half, the less said the better.

And while Jordan Clarkson, Guerschon Yabusele and whoever emerges from the Malison Brogthews/Mattdry Shayan royal rumble for the last two veteran minimum spots aren’t ceiling raisers, many of them are in fact pro basketball players. Hollinger’s right that the Knicks are unlikely to enjoy the good health they did a year ago. He neglects that they’re also better built to withstand the inevitable bumps and bruises — within reason, natch.

Hollinger: “Meanwhile, any upside of this roster already seems pretty much locked in, right? All the key players are either in their prime or turning the corner out of it, except reserve guard Miles McBride. There are no notable young players waiting in the wings, and New York has no assets left (or space below the collective bargaining agreement’s second-apron payroll threshold, for that matter) to acquire more.”

12 months ago, most of the Knicks had never played together. Now they have. Boston and Cleveland weren’t just two of the league’s most talented teams a year ago; most of their key players had already played hundreds of games together. The Knicks were equally talented, but nowhere near as experienced. You remember your early days of lovemaking? You learned anything since? I’m willing to bet you have. Willing to bet the Knicks have, too. The roster is better than last year, they’re more familiar with one another and they shared winning and losing deep in the playoffs as a family. They’re working from a stronger starting point.

Hollinger: “As a secondary consideration, the depth situation beyond the top eight players looks somewhat dire, particularly at forward. The Knicks are forced by their second-apron situation to keep only 14 players and may need to backstop the last two roster spots with late second-round picks who normally would be on two-way contracts. Pacôme Dadiet and Tyler Kolek don’t exactly seem primed to take the league by storm either. Should injuries hit, this could slide downhill fast.”

You can make the case philosophically for why the Knicks should be full speed ahead and damn the torpedoes chasing a title when they’re closer than they’ve been since the 1990s. You can just as easily claim they can’t afford to overlook developing a youthful vanguard, given every rotation player besides Miles McBride was born in the 1990s and none besides Deuce come cheap. What you can’t argue is that their last two roster spots going to players who in the past might not have received them, and who might be now more for reasons of finances and flexibility than pure merit, is exclusively a Knicks thing. It’s growing increasingly common under the new CBA.

Jake Fisher wrote in The Stein Line that the Warriors “are planning to have No. 56 overall pick Will Richard on the Opening Night roster in part because Richard’s first NBA contract would put the minimum possible strain on Golden State’s tax bill. Cleveland had agents abuzz before the draft because the Cavaliers had gotten the word out that whoever they drafted at No. 49 was likely to be signed … and then they backed it up by doing exactly that with second-round selection Tyrese Proctor of Duke.”

It sucks that teams feel pushed to prioritize anything other than talent when rounding out their roster. But if it’s happening across the board, it’s not likely to hurt the Knicks more than it is any other team, especially given their added depth this year.

Hollinger: “Maybe I’m too pessimistic; the Knicks’ roster is strong at the top, and the East is a soft puddle. But go back to the big picture: Transitioning from Thibodeau to Mike Brown wasn’t a move made for the sake of increasing the regular-season win total. I suspect the results will also reflect that.”

The hiring of Mike Brown was the Knicks coming out of the closet as Veruca Salt. Under Thibodeau, their regular-season successes came at the expense of ultimate playoff glories. Now, they want it all, and they want it now. There’s reasons to doubt; there always are. But there are just as many if not more to think the best is yet to come.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...n-hollinger-is-wrong-about-the-2025-26-knicks
 
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