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The New York Knicks signed Miles McBride in 2021, drafted by Oklahoma City, and traded to New York. From showing flashes of brilliance in the summer league, averaging 15 points per game, to prominent showings under the Knicks’ G-League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks.
On December 30, 2023, the Knicks announced they had signed McBride to a contract extension for three years worth $13 million. With the trades of RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, a rotation spot had cleared for McBride’s emergence. Following this opening for more playing time, McBride averaged 10.7 points while shooting 45% from the field and 41% from beyond the arc the rest of the season.
McBride showed flashes that he has what it takes with four playoff games, scoring 15 points or more and averaging 13.8 points per game with three games of 25 or more points in March. The next step is in McBride’s cookbook for this upcoming season, but getting there will take even sharper discipline and focus.
The Knicks are walking into the new season as contenders in the Eastern Conference. McBride spoke on the latest edition of Patrick Beverly’s podcast (h/t Posting and Toasting), The Pat Bev Podcast with Rone, discussing his patience and poise with shot selection and rushing shots:
“You work so hard and you want to show it,” McBride said. “Then you get that pressure on yourself […] I know how hard I work, so I just want to make sure I’m doing everything to the best of my ability, and I want it to show.”
The maturity of McBride has seen him treating every practice like a full game and reaching out to his now peers to pick their seasoned minds on the best ways to develop his game. Seeking out the wisdom of the veterans around him, including Derrick Rose, Julius Randle, Jaylen Brunson, and Kemba Walker over the years, has prepped Deuce to the point he believes they are tired of his questions.
The 2024-25 season looks to be the most comfortable and well-rounded of Miles McBride’s career thus far. He has a stable standing in the rotation with ample room to navigate and grow his game. As a starter, McBride averaged 17.9 PPG and 4.1 APG in 14 games.
Playing both behind and beside Jalen Brunson in the rotation will add that winning level of versatility teams need on a night-to-night basis and expand McBride’s comfortability playing multiple positions. Averaging 14 points over his last five games of the postseason, McBride looks to set a new benchmark this upcoming season in a more defined role on the New York Knicks.
This post was published on 2024-06-18 09:42
