Andre Drummond is bringing something to the Knicks that Mitchell Robinson never quite managed to turn into real in-game growth: visible, measurable progress.
That was the bigger takeaway after New York signed the veteran big man, whose offensive game has taken real steps forward over the last several seasons. Drummond, once known almost entirely for his limitations at that end of the floor, has pushed his free-throw shooting to about 60.0 percent since 2017-18, a huge jump from the 38.1 percent mark he carried before that stretch. He also just posted a career-best 35.6 percent from beyond the arc in year 14 of his career.
For Jalen Brunson, that kind of climb is proof that the work doesn’t stop when the cameras do. The Knicks star sees Drummond’s development as a reminder that offseason grind can show up when the games matter.
That contrast naturally brings Robinson back into the picture. The former Knicks center was never short on offseason footage or promises of improvement, with summer clips often showing him working on his jumper, his free throws and the rest of his offensive package. But once the season arrived, that progress never really carried over.
Drummond, on the other hand, has actually backed up the work, and the Knicks are hoping that pays off in 2026-27.
His improvement isn’t just about adding a little polish to his game, either. Drummond is also chasing a place in the record books. After New York’s preseason game against the Washington Wizards last week, he talked about his rebounding production and made it clear he has one target for this season: passing Dennis Rodman on the NBA’s all-time rebounds list.
Drummond enters the season with 11,513 career rebounds, good for 27th all time, and sits 441 behind Rodman at No. 24. He grabbed 532 rebounds last season and has averaged 976 boards per year over his career, which puts him on pace to move ahead of the Hall of Famer and into the top 25 by season’s end.
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Knicks Just Added An Awkward Karl-Anthony Towns Tension Before Opening Night
With opening night getting closer, the Knicks have chosen to put extension talks on hold for now, a move aimed at keeping the focus on basketball and the clubs payroll situation rather than contract drama. The team has been working with an eye on staying under the second apron while still trying to sort out long-term deals, but no agreement has been reached yet for either Josh Hart or Karl-Anthony Towns.
For Towns, the delay landed as a real letdown. He made it clear he understood the business side of the decision and said the priority has to be the season, but the timing still created an awkward layer around a roster that is supposed to be settling in for a fresh start. The Knicks can revisit the talks later, though for now the unanswered question is how that contract picture will affect the mood around two important pieces of their rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Roster Battle Is Raising One Tough Question Early
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James Wiseman and Jaden Akins have been among the more noticeable beneficiaries of that approach, with both getting extended chances to show they can help. Wiseman has flashed real efficiency in limited action, and Akins has been one of the quieter surprises so far, but the bigger question still lingers around whether the Knicks may eventually use a trade to create more room and make these preseason performances matter even more. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Face A Tough Miles McBride Decision Before The Deadline
Miles McBride has gone from useful rotation guard to one of the more interesting names on New Yorks radar as the trade deadline approaches. According to Mark Stein, other NBA teams are already circling because of the uncertainty around his long-term future with the Knicks, even after he played a meaningful role in last seasons championship run and continued to provide solid work in both the regular season and playoffs.
The Knicks now have to weigh the value of keeping a trusted contributor against the reality of McBrides contract situation and what comes next. With rival clubs viewing him as a likely in-season trade candidate, New York is facing the kind of deadline decision that can quietly shape a roster well beyond February, especially with free agency looming next summer. [Read more 🡒]