Category: New York Knicks Blog

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Knicks notes heading into Game 2 against Celtics

On Monday, the Knicks won Game 1 of their second round playoff series on the road in Boston against the Celtics, 108-105.

Jalen Brunson recorded 29 points, five assists, two steals and five made three-pointers. This marked his 22nd playoff game as a Knick with 25+ points, which ranks third in Knicks history and only trails Patrick Ewing (43) and Walt Frazier (29). Brunson also passed Dick Barnett (922) for 9th on the Knicks all time playoff scoring list.

Brunson scored 20 points on 60-percent shooting and four made three-pointers on 100-percent three-point shooting in the second half. This marked his 14th second half in the playoffs as a Knick with 20+ points, which ranks first in Knicks history since the NBA started tracking quarter stats in 1996-97.

OG Anunoby registered 29 points, four rebounds and one steal, marking his fourth career playoff game with 25+ points. Anunoby also set a playoff career high with six made three-pointers.

Anunoby scored 20 points in the second half, marking his second career half in the playoffs with 20+ points.

Mikal Bridges recorded eight points, seven assists, six rebounds, three steals and two blocks, marking his third career playoff game with multiple blocks and multiple steals.

Bridges added two steals in overtime, becoming the first Knick since the NBA started tracking quarter stats in 1996-97 to have multiple steals in a playoff overtime.

The Knicks rallied back from a 20-point deficit against the Celtics, marking their largest playoff comeback since 1969-70.

Jalen Brunson wins 2024-25 NBA Clutch Player of Year award

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson is the recipient of the Jerry West Trophy as winner of the 2024-25 NBA Clutch Player of the Year award.

The award, which was first presented in the 2022-23 season, honors the NBA player who best comes through for his teammates late in close games. A global media panel of 100 voters selected the winner based on nominations from NBA head coaches.

In the 2024-25 regular season, Brunson averaged an NBA-high 5.6 points in clutch situations, which are defined as possessions in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime when the score is within five points. In those instances, he also led the league in field goals made (52) and ranked second in total points (156) and third in total assists (28).

Brunson shot 51.5% from the field and 84.0% from the free throw line in clutch time. In the 28 clutch games in which he played, the Knicks had a record of 17-11.

Overall, Brunson averaged 26.0 points and 7.3 assists in 35.4 minutes in 65 games this season. He ranked eighth in the NBA in both points and assists per game. Brunson was selected as an NBA All-Star for the second season in a row.

Knicks and Sixers to play two October 2025 preseason games in Abu Dhabi

The NBA and the Department of Culture and Tourism of Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) today announced that The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 will feature the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers playing preseason games on Thursday, Oct. 2 and Saturday, Oct. 4 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island.

The Knicks currently feature two-time NBA All-Star Jalen Brunson, five-time NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns and 2022 NBA All-Defensive First Team member Mikal Bridges. Bridges and Brunson previously played in Abu Dhabi as members of the USA Basketball (USAB) Men’s National Team prior to the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Towns participated in The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023 as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The 76ers currently feature 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player and seven-time NBA All-Star Joel Embiid, nine-time NBA All-Star Paul George and 2024 NBA All-Star Tyrese Maxey. Embiid previously played in Abu Dhabi as a member of the USAB Men’s National Team prior to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 will air live in the UAE, across the Middle East and around the world, reaching fans in more than 200 countries and territories on television, digital media and social media.

Knicks sign P.J. Tucker for remainder of season

The New York Knicks have signed P.J. Tucker for the remainder of the season.

Tucker, 39-years-old (6-5, 245-pounds), returns to New York after signing consecutive 10-Day contracts with the Knicks. He appeared in one game for the Knicks this season. Last season Tucker appeared in 31 games (10 starts) with the 76ers and Clippers, recording 1.7 points (37.1% 3PT%) and 2.7 rebounds over 15.7 minutes. Tucker, over his 13-year career, has made at least 50 three-pointers and recorded at least 50 steals nine times each. He holds career averages of 6.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals over 28.2 minutes in 884 games (666 starts) for the Raptors, Suns, Rockets, Bucks, Heat, 76ers and Clippers.

Delon Wright traded to Knicks

The New York Knicks announced yesterday that the team has acquired Delon Wright, the draft rights to Hugo Besson and cash considerations from the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a multi-team trade.

In exchange, the team has traded Jericho Sims to the Milwaukee Bucks and the draft rights to Mathias Lessort to the Washington Wizards.

Wright, 32-years old (6-5, 185-pounds), has appeared in 26 games with the Milwaukee Bucks this season, recording 2.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists over 15.6 minutes. He recorded a season-high nine points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals vs. Chicago (Dec 23, 2024). Wright is one of 14 players in the NBA to record five steals off the bench this season. He holds career averages of 6.7 points on 44.6-percent shooting, 3.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals over 20.5 minutes in 534 games (87 starts) over 10 seasons with the Raptors, Grizzlies, Mavericks, Pistons, Kings, Hawks, Wizards, Heat and Bucks.

Mikal Bridges continues to struggle for Knicks

Per the NY Post:

After another ride on the struggle bus for Mikal Bridges on Friday afternoon — which included the guard being benched for most of the fourth quarter of a nip-and-tuck Knicks victory — he pledged, “I’ll be better” as teammates and coach forcefully went to bat for the embattled guard.

“I’m not worried about [Bridges],” Josh Hart said. “I think the media and people are killing him. He’s in a new situation. He’s in a situation where he’s played 19 games in a different role that he’s played the last four years. So it’s our job to get him going. And all the other BS about what we gave up [the five first-round picks to the Nets], it means nothing.

“If we win, if we get a championship, ain’t nobody give a damn about how many picks we gave up. We could’ve given up 15 picks, it don’t matter. At the end of the day, we’re trying to win a championship. He’s going to be a key piece of that.”

Injury concern for Knicks iron man Josh Hart

Per the NY Post:

It is always surprising — even jarring — to see Josh Hart come out of a game, especially during the playoffs.

Asking out is something else entirely.

The Knicks’ iron man suffered an injury to his abdominal area Friday night in the first quarter of a series-tying 116-103 loss in Game 6 against the Pacers.

Hart, who already has played four complete games in the Knicks’ first 12 of the postseason, even appeared to motion to the bench to be removed nearly midway through the third quarter.

FULL ARTICLE

Pacers win at home, force a Game 7 with Knicks

Per the Indianapolis Star:

After a miserable performance in Game 5 put them on the brink of elimination, the Pacers dominated in all the areas they flopped on Tuesday, pounding the Knicks 116-103 in Game 6 on Friday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to tie the series 3-3 and force a Game 7.

The deciding game will be played at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday at Madison Square Garden. The winner plays the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals…

The Knicks decision to go small starting in Game 5 with Miles McBride inserted into the starting lineup and Josh Hart moved from small to power forward gave the Pacers an obvious size advantage in the frontcourt. They didn’t exploit it nearly as much as they intended to in Game 5, but it Game 6 they had a lot more opportunities and they took advantage.

FULL ARTICLE

Knicks trade Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier, Malachi Flynn, Ryan Arcidiacono to Pistons for Bojan Bogdanovic, Alec Burks

The Detroit Pistons have acquired guard Quentin Grimes, forward Evan Fournier, guards Malachi Flynn and Ryan Arcidiacono, two future second round draft picks and cash considerations in a trade with the New York Knicks for forward Bojan Bogdanovic and guard Alec Burks.

Grimes, 6-5, 205, has appeared in 45 games (18 starts) for the Knicks this season while averaging 7.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 20.2 minutes. The 25th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Grimes has appeared in 162 games (90 starts) over three seasons with New York, holding career averages of 8.6 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting .436 from the field and .379 from 3-point range. The Houston, Texas, native played one season at the University of Kansas before transferring to the University of Houston. Grimes averaged 17.8 points and 5.7 rebounds in his junior season for the Cougars and was named 2020-21 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

Fournier, 6-6, 205, is a 12-year NBA veteran. He has appeared in 675 career games (504 starts) for Denver, Orlando, Boston and New York. Drafted by the Denver Nuggets with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Fournier holds career averages 13.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting .442 from the field and .378 from 3-point range. Fournier spent three seasons with the Knicks, averaging 11.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 26.0 minutes per game. The Saint-Maurice, France, native has won a silver medal for the French national team in the 2020 Summer Olympics and two bronze medals in the 2014 and 2019 FIBA World Cups.

Flynn, 6-1, 175, has appeared in 45 games this season averaging 4.6 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 11.9 minutes for the New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors. A four-year NBA veteran, Flynn played four seasons for the Toronto Raptors (2020-23) before being traded to the Knicks on Dec. 30, 2023. The Tacoma, Wash., native played two seasons collegiately at Washington State before transferring to San Diego State. The No. 29 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Flynn was named Second Team All-American, Mountain West Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the year in his senior year at San Diego State.

Arcidiacono, 6-3, 195, is in his seventh NBA season. In 257 career NBA games, he’s averaged 4.0 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists with Chicago, New York and Portland. The Philadelphia, Pa., native played four seasons at Villanova University (2012-16) where he helped the wildcats to the 2016 NCAA championship. Arcidiacono was named 2015 Big East Player of the Year and crowned Most Outstanding Player in the 2016 NCAA tournament. Undrafted in 2016, Arcidiacono signed a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls prior to the 2017-18 season.

Bogdanovic, 6-7, 226, appeared in 87 games (86 starts) for Detroit, averaging 21.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting .481 from the field and .413 from 3-point range across two seasons. Bogdanovic was acquired via trade from the Utah Jazz on Sept. 22, 2022. He holds career averages of 15.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 690 career games.

Burks, 6-6, 214, appeared in 94 games for Detroit over two seasons, averaging 12.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting .416 from the field and .407 from 3-point range. Burks was acquired via trade from the New York Knicks on July 11, 2022. He holds career averages of 10.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 719 career games.

Knicks sign Miles McBride to contract extension

The New York Knicks have signed guard Miles McBride to a contract extension.

Per the NY Post:

Miles McBride agreed to a three-year, $13 million extension, multiple sources confirmed to The Post.

The deal is fully guaranteed and frontloaded, decreasing in annual salary each year, which helps McBride from a cash value standpoint, sources said.

McBride, a defensive-minded point guard, has been used sparingly since getting drafted 36th overall in 2021.

But he should get an increased role after the team dealt Immanuel Quickley in a package to Toronto, leaving McBride as probably the first backup point guard after Jalen Brunson.

McBride, 23-years-old (6-1, 195-pounds), is averaging 1.9 points (50-percent FG; 41.2-percent 3PT) in 18 games for the New York Knicks this season. He holds career averages of 2.8 points and 1.0 assists over 10.0 minutes per game in 122 games (four starts) in parts of three seasons with the Knicks. McBride is also averaging 19.0 points, 4.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds in two games this season for the Westchester Knicks, the official NBA G League affiliate of the New York Knicks.

The Cincinnati, OH-native, was originally selected by Oklahoma City with the 36th pick of the 2020 NBA draft before being traded to the New York Knicks. A two-year standout at West Virginia, McBride recorded 12.6 points, 3.3 assists and 3.1 rebounds over 28.0 minutes in 60 games (30 starts). He was also named to the 2020-21 All-Big 12 Second Team and the 2019-20 Big 12 All-Freshman Team.