Miles McBride earned himself a name with the New York Knicks in 2023-24 and paid respects to a few people for that.
McBride was a recent guest on “The Pat Bev Podcast with Rone” hosted by Milwaukee Bucks star Patrick Beverley, and shouted out Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson, former teammates Derrick Rose, Kemba Walker, and his Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau for helping him mature his game, some by responding to a smart tactic of his (h/t Russell Richardson of Posting and Toasting):
“You want to be as prepared as you can in every situation. I’m asking questions. I mean, they were probably tired of me!” McBride said.
Knicks: Miles McBride proved that he learned from his vets with polished game in 2023-24
McBride has taken elements from each of those players’ games and worked them into his own under Thibodeau’s gritty coaching style. The 23-year-old found ways to use his speed to get to his spots and finish like Rose. He made smart playmaking decisions in the half-court like Walker.
“Deuce” brought relentless energy to the defensive end the way Randle does on both ends and was raved about by teammates last summer, and most glaringly, improved leaps and bounds in his increased role akin to Brunson’s rise to MVP candidacy.
It’s clear that McBride’s questioning paid off, as he refined his outside shooting by 11.1 percent to 41 percent, his field goal efficiency from an abysmal 35.8 percent to a healthy 45.2 percent clip, and maintained his regular low turnover rate. He also showed experience as a third-year guard, looking comfortable in his role in the Knicks’ offense, the way his vets are able to ingratiate themselves into any roster they join.
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McBride’s NBA inspirations growing up show in his game
When looking back, McBride also mentioned two players he emulated his game after, that upon hearing, would leave most in agreement based on the eye test from this season:
“When I felt like I wasn’t going to get to be that height, then I started you know really trying to look at more point guards like Brandon Roy and Deron Williams,” McBride noted.
The West Virginia product showed similarities to Roy as a catch-and-shoot artist and to Williams from a mechanical standpoint. That, coupled with him getting stronger by way of Thibodeau’s grueling full-court closeout drills, contributed to him having a career year in New York in 2023-24. Should he remain in town for next season, the Knicks will want McBride to continue his elevated level of play that’s gotten him to this point in his career.