The New York Knicks will likely start next season with a nine-man rotation under new head coach Mike Brown, following major offseason changes that included adding depth with Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele. Brown’s coaching style suggests he will rely more on his bench compared to his predecessor Tom Thibodeau, though the precise details of his rotation remain to be seen.
Sports analyst James L. Edwards III from The Athletic predicts Brown will limit the rotation to nine players, stating,
“I don’t think the Knicks have the depth to go 10 deep, though it may benefit the organization to find occasional minutes for someone like Pacôme Dadiet. New York could still use a backup point guard, as I view McBride more as an off-ball guard. However, if the Knicks were to use their final veteran-minimum spot on Landry Shamet, which I’m led to believe is a real possibility, McBride will likely be the backup point guard,”
Edwards explained.
With Clarkson and Yabusele joining the roster, the Knicks add valuable coverage for their wing players, such as Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby. Bridges logged some of the highest minutes in the league last season and was seldom rested, so these acquisitions are expected to offer Brown more flexibility in managing player fatigue and matchups.
High Expectations Set for Knicks Lead to Limited Rookie Minutes
Adopting a nine-man rotation suggests limited opportunities for the team’s younger players like Tyler Kolek, Pacôme Dadiet, and Ariel Hukporti, all of whom had sparse playing time during their rookie seasons. While these sophomores may develop into key contributors in the future, the Knicks’ current focus on contending for a championship means relying on experienced players over untested talent.
The starting lineup also remains uncertain. Early indications lean toward Mitchell Robinson maintaining a starting role, while Josh Hart might come off the bench, but final roster decisions are expected very close to the season opener.
This expected depth marks one of the largest rotations the Knicks have fielded in recent years. Their roster versatility enables players to fill multiple roles, though Brown and the Knicks will need nearly everything to align perfectly for the team to make a serious title run next season.