The New York Knicks have been the best team in the NBA since the calendar flipped to 2024. They have gone 13-2 in the month, thriving since their blockbuster trade with the Toronto Raptors, adding OG Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa to the rotation in place of Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett.
While the results have been there for the Knicks, their roster could still use another tweak or two ahead of the trade deadline next week. Adding another ball-handler and shot-creator is a must as the team is over-reliant on Jalen Brunson in that role, especially with Julius Randle sidelined.
With the lineup change, head coach Tom Thibodeau has turned to new players to soak up minutes in the backcourt. One of those players has been Miles McBride, who has taken over the backup point guard job from Quickley, holding off Malachi Flynn, who came over from the Raptors as well.
This is a role the Knicks have been grooming McBride for. A second-round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, he hasn’t always had a consistent role in the rotation as a backup guard. But, whenever his number had been called, New York could count on him to bring hard-nosed defense.
Knowing what they had, and could have with some development, the Knicks signed McBride to a three-year, $13 million extension after the trade. While some people were left scratching their heads at the deal, it looks like another shrewd move by Leon Rose and the front office.
McBride has shown that he is someone who can be relied upon to play rotation minutes and produce with his opportunities. He is providing that impact defensively we have become accustomed to and is now getting the job done offensively as well.
As shared by KingBacca22x on X, McBride has done everything the team has asked for since signing his extension and being inserted into the lineup. He has had several box scores that stick out and has been on fire from 3-point range.
McBride certainly isn’t the shot creator that Quickley was, but he is playing excellent defense and knocking down open jump shots. His limitations as a point guard were on display in the two games he started when Brunson was injured, as New York scored 200 points combined and went 1-1.
But, for the price which the Knicks signed him, McBride is proving to be a steal. Ideally, he would be the third point guard, but he is someone who needs to be in the rotation even if the Knicks make a move ahead of the deadline for another guard.
McBride has earned a rotation spot with his performance, bringing energy every time he steps on the court. Spot-up knockdown shooters are something every team needs more of and McBride is showing capable of providing that, connecting on 48.4 percent of his 3-point attempts in January.
