The Knicks’ acquisition of Jose Alvarado is starting to look less like a luxury and more like a necessity.
That became clear with the news that Miles McBride, who had already missed the team’s last four games with what was initially labeled as left ankle soreness, is now expected to undergo surgery for a core muscle injury. He could be out for the remainder of the regular season.
According to reports, McBride initially sought an evaluation for the ankle, but further testing revealed a more serious issue - a core injury that had been lingering beneath the surface. He’d been playing through it, grinding out minutes and contributing despite the discomfort. But now, with surgery on the table, the Knicks will have to push forward without one of their most important bench contributors.
And make no mistake - McBride was having a breakout campaign. Averaging 12 points per game while shooting 42% from three, he had become a key cog in New York’s rotation.
He was spacing the floor, defending his tail off, and hitting timely shots - all while playing himself into a potential payday. He’s in the second year of a three-year, $13 million deal, and the way he was trending, an extension this summer felt like a matter of when, not if.
But now, McBride shifts his focus to recovery. And the Knicks? They’ve got to recalibrate.
Enter Jordan Clarkson.
With McBride sidelined, the Knicks suddenly find themselves without their top bench scorer. Jose Alvarado brings defensive grit and energy - and that’s no small thing - but he doesn’t replicate McBride’s scoring punch or his ability to stretch the floor. That’s where Clarkson could come in, assuming he’s still on the roster after Thursday’s 5 p.m. trade deadline.
Clarkson’s role has been in flux, especially during the Knicks’ rough 2-9 start to 2026. But with McBride and Josh Hart (also dealing with an ankle injury) both out in Wednesday’s win over the Nuggets, Clarkson was thrust into the starting lineup.
He responded with 11 points. Not a headline-grabbing performance, but a reminder of what he can bring when given minutes.
He’s averaging around 10 points per game this season, and while he’s been mostly out of the rotation during the team’s recent surge, the door is now wide open for him to contribute.
McBride’s rise has been one of the more compelling Knicks stories over the past year. Drafted 36th overall in 2021 via the Thunder, he climbed the depth chart and earned a contract extension after the team moved on from Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett in the OG Anunoby trade. That deal cleared the runway for McBride, and he took off - becoming a knockdown shooter and a relentless on-ball defender who played much bigger than his listed 6-foot-2 frame.
Before the injury, McBride led the team in plus-minus with a +10 net rating - a stat that speaks volumes about his on-court impact. He wasn’t just putting up numbers; he was driving winning basketball.
Still, the Knicks have shown they can weather his absence. They’ve gone 11-5 in games McBride has missed this season and were 12-6 without him last year under Tom Thibodeau. That’s not to say he isn’t valuable - far from it - but it does show this team has depth, resilience, and a system that can survive short-term losses.
McBride currently ranks fifth in the NBA in three-point efficiency among players attempting at least six threes per game - elite territory. Alvarado, meanwhile, is averaging 8 points and 3 assists while shooting 36% from deep. He’s not the same kind of offensive weapon, but he brings his own brand of chaos on the defensive end, something Thibodeau will surely lean into.
The Knicks are in the thick of the playoff race, and while losing McBride is a gut punch, the team has options. Alvarado shores up the defense.
Clarkson has a chance to reassert himself offensively. And if the team continues to get contributions across the board - like they did during their recent eight-game win streak - they’ll have a shot to stay right in the mix.
But make no mistake: McBride’s absence will be felt. He was becoming one of the most impactful bench guards in the league. Now, it’s up to the rest of the roster to fill that void - and maybe, just maybe, for Clarkson to get another chance to shine.