Over the past two years, depth has been one of the largest challenges for the Knicks’ roster.
The Knicks bench ranked dead last in scoring during the 2024-25 regular season. In the playoffs, the club was ranked second to last in bench scoring, as then-head coach Tom Thibodeau often went to a seven-and-a-half man rotation for long stretches of the postseason.
New York responded this offseason by adding depth.
The club signed free agents Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson to bolster the rotation. The two new Knicks join Miles McBride and either Josh Hart or Mitchell Robinson in the bench rotation. New York also added veteran guards Malcolm Brogdon, Landry Shamet and Garrison Mathews, who are all vying for spots on the roster. Second year players Ariel Hukporti, Pacome Dadiet and Tyler Kolek are in the mix as well.
It does seem likely that Robinson will start at center at the beginning of the season since he’s started all three preseason games, while Hart has missed two of the three games due to injury and illness.
McBride and Robinson were both crucial off the bench for the Knicks in the postseason. If Hart is a reserve this season, he adds a versatile wing capable of rebounding and making plays who can help add some pace to the offense.
Adding Yabusele specifically has given the Knicks more versatility in the frontcourt and another outside threat. The Frenchman can play as a power forward with Karl-Anthony Towns or Robinson at the five. He can also be a small ball center for stints with smaller lineups. Clarkson brings an ability to create his own scoring opportunities while occasionally setting up teammates.
Early returns
With new head coach Mike Brown implementing a read-and-react offense, the Knicks bench could see more opportunities. Brown has focused on upping the pace, moving the ball and bombing away from behind the three-point line.
The offense is still a work in progress.
In New York’s Thursday night preseason win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the club tossed up 57 three-point attempts, missing 42 of them. New York was 27th in three-point attempt rate last season. The club hoisted over 50 three-pointers once all season. So far in preseason, New York is shooting just 26.5 percent from beyond the arc.
It’s going to take some time for all the players to get comfortable under a new offensive system. But the potential for a free-flowing offense that relies on more ball movement can loosen up scoring opportunities for the bench, making the reserves more of a strength. That will be important in the long run so the Knicks don’t overuse their core four of Towns, Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges.
Brown said during training camp that he expects to play a nine-and-a-half to 10-man rotation. In three preseason games, it’s been clear that McBride, Yabusele and Clarkson are locked into the rotation, as well as the absent Hart. Shamet received rotation minutes against Minnesota after Brogdon’s run of minutes against the Philadelphia 76ers last Saturday. Those two, as well as Hukporti or Dadiet, could see action situationally. It will all depend on who ends up with the final roster spots at the end of preseason.
Defense from the reserves will also be important to watch. Clarkson is a subpar defender, and Yabusele is not elite on the defensive end. When fully healthy, the Knicks bench should be less of a glaring weakness compared to last season despite defensive concerns. There’s more offensive versatility and perimeter shooting featured across the roster which should help throughout both the regular season and playoffs.
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