Knicks rookie point guard Miles McBride headed to the G-League to get some action, as the Westchester club opened its home schedule Wednesday versus the Long Island Nets in Bridgeport, Conn., Westchester’s temporary home.
McBride, selected 36th in this year’s draft, has barely played for the Knicks, making four garbage-time appearances.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau pushed for the drafting of McBride but can’t find any minutes for him, and said Wednesday he’ll play multiple games there but still come back for practices.
“I love him, I love him,’’ Thibodeau said before the Knicks’ 104-98 loss to the lowly Magic. “I think it’s important for him to be with us, but every opportunity we get where we can have him play some, we want to try to take advantage of that as well. But he’s got a great future, great kid, hard worker. And when you come into this league, it’s all about — you’ve got to learn first. And that’s what he’s doing.’’
The Knicks aren’t expected to practice Thursday, so McBride, known as “Deuce,” can get another game in versus the G-League Nets then. He scored 25 with nine assists and five rebounds on Wednesday.
Knicks guard Miles McBride will play in the Westchester Knicks’ home opener Wednesday night in Bridgeport, Conn. Corey Sipkin“It’s just day-to-day,’’ Thibodeau said. “When we have an opportunity to send him, we’ll send him. I love the proximity of it where it’s right there, it’s in our building. So I think it’s important for him to be with us in practice, games, but anytime we have a situation where he can do both, ideally that’s what we would like to have. There will be some where he goes back and forth. I love who he is. He’s a big part of practice every day for us.’’’
McBride has played just five minutes in total and missed all four of his shots. He’s yet to score his first NBA basket.
Thibodeau wouldn’t say whether rookie center Jericho Sims or shooting guard Quentin Grimes might go to Westchester for Thursday’s game, with the Knicks idle for two days.
Westchester is playing its home games in Bridgeport because the Westchester County Center is a vaccination site.
Thibodeau said he’s not ready to bail on a starting lineup that has been a statistical minus all season, indicating he prefers not to break up the stalwart second unit.
“What you see is what we have,’’ Thibodeau said. “There’s not a big difference between either group, and so we’ll see how it unfolds. I’m not opposed to it, but I like the way the second unit is playing. There’s risk in that, too. You change that you may lose the effectiveness of that second unit.’’
Mitchell Robinson, who left Monday’s game in the third quarter with a sprained ankle, made his return but Nerlens Noel remains out. Noel has played in 3 ½ of the first 15 games.
