The Knicks are still sorting through the last open spots on the roster, and training camp is giving them another look at a familiar kind of candidate: a veteran wing trying to turn a temporary audition into something more permanent. Bruce Brown, 30, has made a strong early impression as a multi-use option who can handle the ball, finish plays and defend multiple spots. Head coach Mike Brown has liked what he’s seen so far.
“ He’s been doing a nice job. He was with the group a few nights ago … those guys made a couple of mistakes but they played hard - not just defensively, moving the ball quickly, etc,” Brown said.
“ Bruce, he was great on the ball. It was textbook.
Watching him still do those things knowing he’s fighting for a spot is a lot of fun to see.”
Brown also said one part of these camp competitions he values is getting a better read on veterans as people, not just as players, because that can say plenty about how they’d fit with the team’s culture.
That said, Bruce Brown isn’t the only name in the mix, and he’s not a lock for one of those final openings. The Knicks also have a bigger need at center, where James Wiseman has already flashed some interesting moments, among others.
Karl-Anthony Towns, meanwhile, is dealing with the disappointment of the Knicks pausing all negotiation talks, though the star center is keeping his focus on what he can control. “ We’re all humans.
My only philosophy since we won, only thing on my mind, is how do we win another one? ” Towns said.
“ For me, it’s the same focus I came into this season with is the same focus I’m going into Game 1 with; how do we keep the trophy in New York beyond this one summer?”
The challenge in front of New York this season is a new one for the group: figuring out how to defend a championship run. The Knicks haven’t done much to reshape the roster, but the Eastern Conference around them looks different, and Mikal Bridges said the team will have to keep evolving if it wants to stay on top.
“ I think you want to grow throughout the season,” he said, per Edwards (Twitter link). “ You don’t want to be at your best to start. You want to go through a season, have ups and downs, and then be at your best toward the end.”
Off the court, Jalen Brunson has been living a summer that fit the moment. Peter Sblendorio of the New York Daily News wrote that the Finals MVP spent much of the offseason moving through the “longest, shortest summer ever,” with stops at World Cup matches, an ESPY win, a Saturday Night Live hosting gig, and a guest appearance coming on Law & Order: SVU alongside superfan and longtime series regular Mariska Hargitay.
In Other News...
Andre Drummond Brings Knicks More Than A Typical Backup Center
Andre Drummond arrives in New York as more than a familiar big body off the bench. The Knicks signed a veteran center who has continued to refine his game late in his career, showing better efficiency and a more rounded offensive touch than the typical reserve rim protector. For a team that values toughness, rebounding and depth in the frontcourt, that kind of evolution gives Drummond a little extra appeal beyond the usual insurance-policy role.
Drummond also comes in with a place in NBA history still within reach, which adds another layer to his late-career chase. He sits 27th on the leagues all-time rebounding list with 11,513 boards, and the next name above him is Dennis Rodman, a standard-bearer for one of the leagues great rebounders. If Drummond keeps his place in a rotation and stays productive, the Knicks could end up watching a personal milestone race unfold in the background while they sort out their own season. [Read more 🡒]
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
The preseason has already started to sort out the Knicks roster picture, and the early minutes have not been distributed evenly. Veterans such as Ochai Agbaji, Drew Eubanks and Tony Bradley have been on the edge of the rotation look, while the staff has leaned more toward younger options as it evaluates who fits best around the groups core and what the team still needs before opening night.
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 🡒]