Bruce Brown’s path to the Knicks came with a lot less buzz than anyone probably expected, especially after he drew interest from the Nuggets and Lakers in free agency. Instead of landing a clear-cut deal with one of those teams, Brown ended up in New York on a training camp agreement, and he didn’t hide what he thinks got in the way.
In a recent interview with the New York Post, Brown said the second apron became the go-to explanation for why the market never really opened up for him. As Stefan Bondy wrote, Brown “went from logging 82 games last season with a title contender to a scant free agent market. The teams interested “weren’t many,” he told The Post, and the common excuse was “the second apron.””
That fits the way this has played out so far. Denver had a roster spot available and could have brought him in on a veteran minimum deal, while the Lakers also surfaced as a possible landing spot. But as September neared, the Nuggets still hadn’t shown serious interest in making that happen, and New York stepped in with an Exhibit 9 deal instead.
The Knicks have been piling up competition around their last roster spots, and Brown is part of that group. Earlier this week, New York agreed to Exhibit 9 deals with Ochai Agbaji, Brown, John Konchar, Drew Eubanks, and James Wiseman. With only two roster spots open and the team nearing the second apron, every preseason rep matters for that entire cluster of veterans.
What makes Brown stand out is the kind of player he has been everywhere else. He can fill a lot of roles and cover a lot of positions, and he already has NBA Finals experience on his résumé.
That kind of versatility is usually enough to keep a veteran moving smoothly through free agency. This time, it wasn’t.
For the Knicks, though, that uncertainty may have created an opening. Brown arrives to a team that values him and a camp battle where he has a real shot to stick. And in New York, the second apron isn’t standing in the way of giving him that chance.
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Warriors Got An Early Look At A Lakers Question That Still Matters
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Jarred Vanderbilt once again flashed the defensive value that has long made him an interesting piece in Los Angeles, even as his offense stayed limited. On the other end, Jaden Hardy showed some scoring ability but also gave the ball away too often, which is the kind of preseason tradeoff that can linger into the regular season. With roster spots still unsettled, these kinds of performances are part of the evaluation the Lakers will keep weighing as they move closer to opening night. [Read more 🡒]
Austin Reaves Is Defining His Voice For This New-Look Lakers Team
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Reaves has been clear about the kind of leadership he prefers, and it is not built around public callouts or dramatic scenes. He sees it as something more personal, rooted in one-on-one conversations and calm accountability, a style that fits his approach and the way he connects with teammates. For the Lakers, the question is not just whether he can produce, but whether that quieter voice can help set the tone for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Stephen Curry Kept This Lakers Loss From Feeling Like Just Preseason
The preseason opener in San Francisco carried more than the usual September exhibition feel, with the Warriors turning it into Nellie Night in honor of the late Don Nelson. Golden State wore yellow Nellie patches on its jerseys, a nod to the coach who helped shape the franchise and, for Stephen Curry, the rookie-season veteran whose influence still lingers as one of the defining figures in his early NBA path.
Curry helped make sure the night had some edge for the Lakers, too. He played 14 minutes and scored 16 points as Golden State rolled to a 124-98 win, giving the game a little more weight than a typical tune-up. The teams will meet again in the regular season on October 21, when the stakes will be real and the Lakers will get their first chance to respond. [Read more 🡒]