Some of the New York Knicks’ key players may be getting a breather this preseason, as head coach Mike Brown may elect to sit the team’s starters for their upcoming preseason game against the Washington Wizards, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post.
After going through five seasons of Tom Thibodeau’s tendencies to rely heavily on his starters, Brown is opting with a different strategy in the preseason. The Knicks have used their starters in each of the team’s three preseason games, with the level of usage increasing with each game.
With the starters sitting out, Knicks fans will get a look at some of the new additions the team has made over the summer. The Knicks beefed up their bench with the additions of Jordan Clarkson, Guerschon Yabusele, and the return of Landry Shamet among others. After the team struggled to make anything happen off the bench last season, the Knicks should be one of the deepest teams in the NBA in 2025-26.
This game will also provide an opportunity for those on non-guaranteed deals to earn a spot with strong showing. The Knicks have brought in Malcolm Brogdon, Alex Len, Garrison Mathews, and Trey Jemison III among others to compete for the final spots in Mike Brown’s rotation. With the regular season creeping closer with each passing day, these players will look to make a strong impression now if they hope to earn their way with the Knicks.