thelesterlee
With the 36th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks selected 20-year old Miles Deuce McBride out of West Virginia. What could’ve been a throwaway pick just to fill out the G-League roster, Deuce has decided to become the best basketball player on Earth during Summer League.
DEUCE MCBRIDE HAS THAT CLUTCH GENE
(via @TheKnicksWall)pic.twitter.com/uv15Ha1b4f
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) August 12, 2021
In Wednesday night’s Summer League game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Deuce put up 22 points on 7-for-9 shooting and 6-for-6 from behind the arc. He also had 7 rebounds, 5 assists and put players in handcuffs defensively.
PICK. HIM. UP. DEUCE. MCBRIDE.
(via @TheKnicksWall)pic.twitter.com/252eIyCnbN
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) August 12, 2021
Absolute shackles.
The weakness of the 2020-21 Knicks was their inability to generate scoring from the guard position. Elfrid Payton had no idea how to pass, shoot or dribble which is a problem for a starting point guard in the NBA.
Their solution was to bring back Derrick Rose and Alec Burks, bring in Evan Fournier from Team France fame, Kemba Walker from the scrap heap and draft Quentin Grimes with the 25th pick.
Also can’t not mention Immanuel Quickley entering his 2nd year in the league and the Knicks are going to need his perimeter shooting skills to get past the first round this season.
So where does Deuce fit on the 2021-22 Knicks?
This week, Kemba Walker’s contract was finalized. A 2-year $18 million deal for the 4-time All-Star with an All-NBA on his resume. He averaged 25.6 points and 5.9 assists in his last season in Charlotte before the Boston Celtics broke him and sent him packing like they did with Isaiah Thomas.
Kemba cannot stay healthy at this point in his career. Small point guards typically age like milk and unfortunately, Kemba will struggle to stay on the court. His backup, Derrick Rose, is even older and more likely to be injured.
It’s easy to be skeptical of the Walker signing knowing he will most likely be in a suit watching the game from floor seats but who cares? Deuce McBride is willing and ready.
So Kemba Walker and Derrick Rose can get injured all they please. You also have to factor in that the Knicks will probably have a Covid outbreak taking some key players out for a few weeks.
Deuce McBride will play. And when he plays, he will dominate.
There is no Elfrid Payton on this current Knicks roster. There is no hole. If anyone was concerned that Kemba can no longer be an All-Star, it doesn’t matter. Quickley and McBride will take over. And we haven’t even begun the see what Quentin Grimes is capable of.
The Knicks front office deserves all the recognition in the world. Knicks in 4.
