New York Knicks guard Miles McBride could be heard giving the team’s rookie center Ariel Hukporti some valuable advice on the court after their impressive win over the Indiana Pacers.
The Knicks bounced back from their blowout loss to the Boston Celtics with an emphatic victory over their own against Indiana – with the team resting their starters for the final minutes of the game and allowing the role players to shine.
Despite the Knicks being up by 30 points, though, McBride told Hukporti how important these minutes were. He could be heard telling the rookie big man: “Don’t throw these minutes away. That’s how I earned minutes. In this little time, that’s how he builds trust.”
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McBride looks to have taken his own advice so far, looking like he might be about to have a breakout season with the Knicks, having been given a more significant role through the first two games this season after dropping 22 points in the season opener.
A natural scorer off-the-bench as a potential spark plug for the Knicks, McBride impressed last season with his three-point shooting and looks to have won the job as back-up point guard and shooting guard – being ahead of Cameron Payne in head coach Tom Thibodeau’s rotation.
In December, McBride signed a three-year, $13 million contract to remain with the team – already looking like the team got a bargain deal on the 24-year-old.
Miles McBride has a big opportunity with the Knicks this season
The Knicks’ win over the Pacers was a fiery affair in Indianapolis, off the back of their fierce seven-game series between the two teams last season – when the Pacers advanced to face the Celtics.
But this year, New York looks to be among the favorites to compete for an NBA Championship after making two huge moves to improve their roster – trading for both Karl Anthony-Towns and Mikal Bridges.
Both men have slotted into starting roles with the Knicks, with the team now boasting arguably the strongest starting five in the league – with many worrying about their strength from the bench. That is where McBride will hope to step in and become a go-to scorer situationally.
However, he only managed eight points in their win over the Pacers.
The Knicks will hope to avenge their defeat to the Celtics when the team’s meet later this season, with the two being seen as the two favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference.
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