New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown is opting for significant preseason playing time for his starting lineup. This approach aims to make up for a later-than-usual start to the team's offseason training after their championship victory.
In the Knicks' 111-109 preseason loss to the Wizards on Thursday, the regular starters played approximately 20 minutes each. Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart led the team in scoring with 13 points apiece. This follows their participation in Monday's exhibition game against the 76ers.
Brown indicated that his plan involves playing his key players in two of the remaining three preseason contests. He acknowledged that other teams are often more cautious with their starters during the preseason but explained that the Knicks are in a position of needing to catch up after a long season.
"If you think about it, we played a long time last year, and our summer was short," Brown stated. "So the guys needed to get away from the game. They needed to go fill their cup, however that may be. And so our demands weren’t the same as other teams."
He elaborated that many other teams had begun their training camps and workouts as early as July and August, including overseas camps and sessions in Los Angeles and Miami, alongside voluntary and in-home gym work. In contrast, the Knicks encouraged their veteran players to return at the end of September, but attendance was not mandatory.
"I told them to fill, whatever they wanted to do, and take some time and when you’re ready to come back, come back," Brown said. "We didn’t really push hard for our vets to come back."
Individually, Brunson shot 6-for-12 from the field and 1-for-6 from three-point range, adding three assists. Hart was efficient, scoring 5 of 8 shots from the field while attacking the basket. Mikal Bridges contributed two points on 1-for-6 shooting in his 20 minutes, while Karl-Anthony Towns had eight points but struggled with three turnovers in his outing.
From the bench, Andre Drummond provided nine rebounds, including five offensive boards, in his 20 minutes. James Wiseman also made a case for a roster spot with a solid nine minutes of play.
All Knicks players passed the team's conditioning test for the second consecutive year. Coach Brown noted that while he doesn't know the precise parameters of the test, passing it is sufficient for players to be cleared. He established a penalty for failing, stating, "They will not practice until they pass it."
When asked about the consequences of failing the conditioning test, Brown explained that the players would work with the performance team. "But I know I will not allow them back in practice until they pass it," he added.