The New York Knicks’ bench didn’t get much work last season under head coach Tom Thibodeau. The Knicks’ starters played by far the most minutes out of any team, with Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby each finishing in the top-6 of the league in minutes per game. It got so bad at one point that Bridges begged Thibodeau to play the bench more.
Thibodeau was fired after the Knicks’ season ended in the Eastern Conference Finals, and now Mike Brown will lead the most pressure-packed Knicks season since the Patrick Ewing days. New York returns its entire starting lineup for the 2025-26 season, and now they have some reinforcements on the bench. The Knicks had previously signed Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson to boost their bench. On Friday, they added another veteran guard who lead executive Leon Rose hopes can soak up some addition minutes in the regular season to keep his stars fresh for the playoffs.
Malcolm Brogdon has agreed to a one-year deal with the Knicks, according to ESPN insider Shams Charania. The 32-year-old Brogdon was named NBA Rookie of the Year back in 2014 with the Milwaukee Bucks when he edged out Joel Embiid and Dario Saric. He was named NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2023 with the Boston Celtics.
Brogdon has been searching for a stable franchise after being traded from Boston to the Portland Trail Blazers in the Jrue Holiday deal. The Celtics went on to win the NBA championship in their first year without him, and he was traded to the Washington Wizards the next year, where he only played in 24 games.
Can Brogdon get back to being the player he was in Boston a couple years ago? If so, this is a great signing for the Knicks. Brogdon can play point guard, but he doesn’t need the ball in his hands. He’s a career 38.8 percent three-point shooter, and he’s particularly good on spot-up threes. Brogdon was a dogged defender in his younger years, and he’ll have to prove he can still guard at the point of attack if he really wants a role for Brown.
The Knicks actually have a decent bench heading into this season. Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride are among the top bench duos in the league. Yabusele is a big addition on the wing, and Clarkson and Brogdon have had very good careers but need to prove they aren’t washed. Tyler Kolek, Pacome Dadiet, and Ariel Hukporti are three younger players on the bench who could take New York’s depth to the next level if any of them can take a leap.
Brogdon reportedly signed a non-guaranteed deal and will compete for a roster spot in training camp with Landry Shamet:
The Knicks are a playoff lock entering this season. They are expected to compete with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the No. 1 seed in the East. Brogdon hasn’t been on a relevant franchise for two years, but this is a solid flier at a low risk for a Knicks team that expects to playing deep into the spring.
