The Knicks have found a late answer for one of their biggest roster questions, and it comes with almost no downside.
Bruce Brown is set to join New York on a training camp deal, giving him a shot at one of the final two spots on the defending champions’ regular season roster. For a team that has been thin on the wings, it’s the kind of low-risk move that can quietly matter a lot.
Brown brings championship experience, too. He was part of the Denver Nuggets’ 2023 title run, and while he may not be at that level now, he still carries a profile that fits a very specific need.
He can defend bigger players, rebound his area, and make plays from different spots on the floor. That kind of versatility is exactly why he’s in the mix.
There will be competition for the spot, with Ochai Agbaji and John Konchar also in the picture. But Brown’s case is pretty straightforward: if he makes the team, he gives the Knicks a veteran wing who can do a little of everything.
That makes him a natural candidate to back up Josh Hart. The two players share a similar kind of value - not flashy, not always obvious in the box score, but consistently useful because they fill gaps and make winning plays. They also both play bigger than their listed size.
Brown’s 2025-26 regular season numbers show that all-around impact. He averaged 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.0 offensive board, 2.1 assists, 1.0 steal, and 0.7 three-point field goals made in 24.4 minutes per game. Per 36 minutes, that jumps to 11.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.5 offensive board, 3.1 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 three-point field goal made.
The efficiency was there, too. Brown shot .475/.385/.762, which fits the picture of a player who can chip in across the board without hurting you.
The deeper numbers back up the same story. In 2025-26, Brown ranked in the 62nd percentile in perimeter isolation defense and the 90th percentile in ball screen navigation, according to Basketball Index. He also landed in the 82nd percentile in rim deterrence.
On top of that, Brown ranked in the 70th percentile in one on one shot making efficiency, the 79th percentile in off-ball gravity, the 84th percentile in passing lane defense, and the 81st percentile in defensive positional versatility.
So the case for Brown is simple: he’s above average in isolation defense, handles screens well, disrupts passing lanes, keeps players away from the rim, and can defend multiple spots. He also brings solid shot creation and enough off-ball presence to stay useful when he isn’t holding the ball.
He may not be the same lockdown presence he once was, and his numbers won’t leap off the page. But the 6'4" wing gives the Knicks exactly the kind of depth they’ve been missing on the perimeter.
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For a team built around Jalen Brunson and a backcourt that already has a clear hierarchy, any late-summer addition has to carve out a role the hard way. Agbaji brings a resume that suggests there is still something to prove, and the early days of camp will reveal whether New York views him as just a body for competition or a player who can push his way into the picture. [Read more 🡒]