Why NY Knicks’ Deuce McBride is poised for a breakout season

Entering his fifth season with the New York Knicks, guard Deuce McBride has his best opportunity yet to break out and solidify himself as a Sixth Man of the Year candidate.

Why is that?

Mike Brown.

“A lot more player movement, ball movement. Last year, at times, we got stagnant and we depended on a lot of isolation shots, which is tough down the stretch,” McBride shared with reporters regarding Brown’s offensive system. “This year, it’s going to be a little more freedom with the movement and a lot of guys cutting, guys getting active.”

Although the Knicks finished with the league’s fourth-highest-ranked offense last year, as the season progressed, the offense continued to decline and relied a lot more on iso ball with star point guard Jalen Brunson.

McBride is poised for a career year

In a system that will rely on a lot of McBride’s strengths as a quick, athletic young guard, the 25-year-old is primed to break out.

McBride’s 2024-25 campaign was not disappointing under any circumstances. He carved out a consistent role, averaging close to double figures in scoring while adding a couple of assists, rebounds, and a reliable defensive presence in just under 25 minutes a night.

His outside shot remained a weapon, with nearly two successful three-point shots per game from downtown.

The issue came with efficiency. After a breakout 2023-24 in which he shot the ball at an impressive clip, his percentages tumbled across the board last season. A tighter rotation under Tom Thibodeau, along with opposing defenses keying in on his strengths, were the primary causes of that decline.

Brown has already shown what his system can do for scoring guards. De’Aaron Fox, for instance, reached his lone All-NBA nod under Brown, raising his effective field-goal percentage from .506 to .557 and finding consistency from three, climbing nearly eight points to 36.9 percent in that first season together.

That blueprint bodes well for McBride. Brown’s offense thrives on spacing and catch-and-shoot looks, something McBride has quietly excelled at.

Sacramento finished top five in catch-and-shoot attempts in each of the past two years, and McBride has converted over 40 percent of those chances in back-to-back seasons.

McBride’s blend of perimeter shooting and defensive firepower makes him the kind of spark plug voters notice in the Sixth Man of the Year race.