Knicks' Deuce McBride goes from bit player to soaking up major minutes for Tom Thibodeau
Miles McBride #2 of the Knicks works against Dennis Schroder #17 of the Nets in the first half at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, March 23, 2024. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Rest? Why should Deuce McBride need rest?
That was the running joke in the locker room Saturday after the third-year guard played every minute of the Knicks’ 105-93 win over the Nets. It was the third straight game in which McBride played more than 40 minutes, a pretty impressive feat for a player who is averaging only 16.7 minutes per game this season, including 13 games in which he did not play at all.
When asked where McBride summoned the stamina to play all 48 minutes, fellow Knicks ironman Josh Hart cracked a wide smile.
“He didn’t play earlier this year. He’s got a lot of energy,” Hart said. “He’s probably at game 40 right now.”
Coach Tom Thibodeau shared the same sentiments when asked about McBride’s heavy minutes.
“Well, he’s well-rested,” he said. “The thing is there’s nothing that you don’t love about Deuce. From the moment we drafted him and even when he wasn’t playing, this tells you a lot because of the way he worked. A guy’s work ethic is a big part of that, his drive.”
Though McBride scored 26 points against the Nets on Saturday and a career-high 29 points against Golden State two games before that, his work ethic and defense are the prime reasons he has been able to go from a fringe rotation player to one whom Thibodeau can rely upon when the team is playing without multiple starters.
Picked 36th overall in the 2021 draft, McBride was one of those young players who embraced Thibodeau’s “stay ready” mentality without getting much of a reward in minutes.
It became clear that McBride was going to figure into the Knicks’ plans when they signed him to a three-year contract extension of $13 million on the same day in late December that RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley were dealt to the Raptors for OG Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa.
Over the past three months, McBride has seen more and more time, beating out Alec Burks for the bulk of backup point guard minutes and even starting games alongside Jalen Brunson.
McBride said after the win over the Nets that it wasn’t always easy, mentally and physically, to stay game-ready when his number wasn’t being called.
“I was just trying to make practice harder than the games,” he said. “Doing whatever I can — running, treadmill, bike and making it game-like in practice as much as I can.
“Yeah, it definitely had some downs. When you’re not playing and you want to do anything to help the team win, it’s tough. But you just stay true, look to the Lord and do whatever I can to keep myself ready.”
As much as they joke about his lack of playing time early in the season, McBride’s teammates are impressed that he was able to be in prime condition when his number was called.
“You have to credit him. For most guys when they’re not playing much or not playing at all, they kind of give in to: OK, I’m not going to work, I’m not going to do extra workouts, do this, do that,” Donte DiVincenzo said.
“He does everything and he’s ready to go. So when his number is called, that’s what happened. He’s ready to go.”
Barbara Barker is an award-winning columnist and features writer in the sports department at Newsday. She has covered sports in New York for more than 20 years.
