Knicks Still Feeling the Effects of the Malcolm Brogdon Signing That Never Happened
Seven games into the 2025-26 NBA season, one thing is clear: the New York Knicks are missing the steadying presence of Malcolm Brogdon.
A little over a month after signing a one-year deal with New York, the veteran guard stunned the basketball world by announcing his retirement, ending a nine-year career that included a Sixth Man of the Year Award and a long track record of consistency.
Now, the Knicks are feeling the void he left behind โ especially in the areas he was supposed to fix.
Knicks Lacking What Brogdon Was Brought In to Provide
Brogdon was expected to bring stability, shooting, and leadership to a bench that desperately needed all three. The fit seemed perfect: a reliable ball-handler who could relieve Jalen Brunson, space the floor, and defend multiple positions.
But with Brogdon unexpectedly stepping away, the Knicksโ rotation looks noticeably incomplete. The team sits at 4-3 and has struggled to find offensive flow or consistent production from its reserves.
Statistically, the picture tells the story:
- 21st in assists per game (25.0)
- 13th in three-point percentage (36.5)
- 19th in points per game (115.5)
- 24th in steals per game (7.2)
When isolating their bench production, the numbers dip even further โ 24th in steals, 19th in three-point percentage, 28th in assists, and 30th in points.
Simply put, Brogdonโs veteran skill set would have addressed nearly all of these shortcomings.
Brunsonโs Off-Ball Role Still a Work in Progress
New head coach Mike Brown has made a clear effort to reduce Jalen Brunsonโs on-ball burden, encouraging more off-ball action to preserve his energy and durability. In theory, itโs a smart adjustment. In practice, itโs been bumpy โ largely because the Knicks lack a reliable secondary playmaker.
Without Brunson, New York averages just 6.3 assists per game, compared to 18.7 when heโs on the court. Meanwhile, only 32.3% of Brunsonโs made field goals have been assisted, underscoring how dependent the offense still is on his self-creation.
Brogdon could have been the perfect stabilizer in these situations โ someone capable of orchestrating the offense when Brunson sits, while also thriving alongside him as a catch-and-shoot threat.
What the Knicks Lost When Brogdon Retired
Over his career, Brogdon averaged 15.3 points, 4.7 assists, and shot 38.8% from three. Last season, he hit 37.1% of his catch-and-shoot threes, numbers that wouldโve given the Knicks a massive lift off the bench.
Instead, New York is left patching together backcourt minutes, hoping players like Deuce McBride and Jordan Clarkson can find rhythm in roles that were designed for someone else.
The Knicks have time to adjust โ but thereโs no denying it: had Brogdon stayed, many of the teamโs early-season struggles might not exist.
