New York Knicks guard Miles "Deuce" McBride has combined two major life events into a single, public milestone this summer: he became a father and released his first children's book.
McBride and his girlfriend, former West Virginia University swimmer Ana Zortea, welcomed daughter Ace McBride in summer 2025. Within days of Ace's birth, McBride announced the release on Amazon of "Deuce: The Champion of Friendship," a picture book that uses basketball as a backdrop to teach empathy and teamwork.
"It was a crazy thing to put out a children's book and then have my daughter be born really at the same time, lining up," McBride said in an interview with The Post. "But it means so much more, just the fact that she's going to grow up with a dad who was able to do something like this. And hopefully have more books coming after this."
The 25-year-old guard, entering his fifth season with the Knicks, said the project is part of a broader effort to leave a positive legacy off the court. He cited Kobe Bryant's post-retirement work — including youth coaching and the Mamba Academy — as an influence. "I really wasn't a Kobe fan growing up," McBride said, "and then after he retired and started leaving a legacy off the court of giving back to the game, that's when I really became more of a fan of his."
McBride has begun touring schools and reading publicly, with stops planned in his hometown of Cincinnati — where he was a high school quarterback before converting to a college and then professional point guard — as well as appearances scheduled at a Bronx school and a Manhattan hospital. He said schools and teachers have ordered multiple copies for classrooms and that the book has been "pretty well received."
Within the Knicks' calendar, McBride said the book tour will pause for training camp, but he intends to continue public readings and is already considering a follow-up. "I've started thinking about the next book and excited to see where the journey takes me," he said.
Beyond the book, McBride's offseason has been notable for his rapid transition into fatherhood. He described the timing as meaningful: the arrival of Ace alongside the book release has given the project a personal dimension, part of a desire to serve as a role model for younger children.
McBride's combination of on-court development and off-court outreach reflects a growing trend among younger players who seek careers as both athletes and influencers in youth engagement. As he prepares for another season in New York, McBride said he hopes the book will reach children who love basketball as well as those discovering the sport, using the game's teamwork and competitive lessons to promote empathy and friendship.
The book's Amazon release and classroom readings mark the first steps in what McBride describes as an evolving project. He said he plans to return to more community appearances once the Knicks' schedule allows and to continue exploring storytelling aimed at young readers.