The New York Knicks will enter 2026 with several noteworthy developments on the health and rotation fronts.
Shamet Back on the Floor, Still Avoiding Contact
Backup guard Landry Shamet has begun non-contact drills as he recovers from the right-shoulder sprain that has kept him out since Nov. 22, according to The Athletic. The 28-year-old chose rehabilitation over surgery and said the process is progressing smoothly. Before the injury, Shamet was averaging 9.3 points in 20.9 minutes while converting 42.4% of his three-point attempts—his best production since the 2020/21 campaign.
Robinson Sits for Load Management
Center Mitchell Robinson will be held out of Wednesday’s meeting with San Antonio and is scheduled to appear in only one of the Knicks’ back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday. Head coach Mike Brown called the absence “strictly load management,” stressing that the ankle Robinson has battled previously has not been re-injured. Rookie big man Ariel Hukporti (questionable for Wednesday) and reserve Trey Jemison III could see additional minutes.
McBride Adjusted Form After Advice From Ray Allen
Guard Miles McBride credits Hall of Famer Ray Allen for a shooting tweak that boosted his perimeter accuracy. Allen urged the then-rookie to increase his elevation and maintain a rigorous pregame routine when the NBA’s all-time three-point record fell at Madison Square Garden in 2021. Since implementing the change, McBride has hit 39.7% of his 700-plus three-point attempts over the last three seasons.
Brown Makes All-Star Case for Towns
Brown said there is “no question” Karl-Anthony Towns deserves an All-Star nod. Towns is averaging more than 20 points and 10 rebounds while serving as New York’s second-leading scorer and top rebounder. Despite an atypical shooting slump, Brown noted that Towns has adapted to a new role in the Knicks’ offense and remains central to the club’s top-three standing in the East.
Rotation Experimentation Pays Off
Brown’s willingness to shuffle lineups has produced key performances from young players Tyler Kolek, Kevin McCullar Jr. and Mo Diawara. Veterans such as Mikal Bridges say the open-minded approach keeps the bench engaged, a factor credited for several recent wins. What was viewed as a potential weakness in October has become a source of depth as injuries accumulate.
The Knicks resume play Wednesday night in San Antonio before closing their back-to-back set this weekend.
Source: Hoops Rumors
