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Mike Brown sees huge potential in Knicks’ Pacome Dadiet but warns of one key mistake

Originally posted on HITC | By Aaditya Krishnamurthy | Last updated Oct 5, 2025 3:17 PM ET

Pacome Dadiet had a good showing in front of New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown, and the coach suggested a way he can push his game even further.

The Knicks have started their preseason campaign on the right foot, picking up two wins over the Philadelphia 76ers during their trip to Abu Dhabi.

Early concerns around Josh Hart’s injury in Game 1 were eased as the team held strong for another solid performance in Game 2. This time, it was Jalen Brunson who led the way with a well-rounded 14-point effort.

Another player who made an impression was Dadiet. While Brown liked what he saw from him, he feels there is one important adjustment that could help him take his game to another level.

Mike Brown believes Pacome Dadiet can take another step forward defensively

Photo by Waleed Zein/Anadolu via Getty Images

Following the Knicks’ win over the 76ers, Mike Brown shared his thoughts on Dadiet’s play.

The coach sees real defensive potential in Dadiet, but pointed out that he needs to stay more engaged and consistent throughout games.

“We emphasize offensive rebounding, and he had a beautiful crash of the glass. He’s long, he’s athletic. He went up, got the ball, and he sprayed it, and we ended up knocking down a three,” said Brown.

“He could be a monster defensively. He’s just got to play with a sense of urgency defensively and awareness every single possession.

“Every once in a while, he just relaxes, and when he relaxes, he’s not using his length, his athleticism, and all the other attributes that he has to make him a great defender.

“So he’s just got to stay in tune and play with a sense of urgency defensively and offensively. He’s got to understand how to space the floor.

“He’s got to know when to cut, when to move up, when to slide down. But for a young guy, he had a solid, solid two games.”

Knicks’ preseason success hints at bigger ambitions for the year ahead

The Knicks have opened their preseason with back-to-back wins over the Philadelphia 76ers, a positive start for a team that has made significant changes over the summer in pursuit of an NBA title.

Even though Charles Barkley backed the 76ers to come out of the East, New York is already showing signs of why they are being mentioned as one of the teams to watch in the conference this season.

Back in the US, they will be looking to build on their early momentum and carry it into the regular season. For Knicks fans, there is real belief this could finally be the year when everything comes together.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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