Former West Virginia point guard, Miles “Deuce” McBride got the starting nod for the New York Knicks Saturday and took full advantage of the opportunity, shooting an impressive 70% from the field.
After WVU’s men’s basketball upset over Texas, Mountaineer fans had something else to cheer for Saturday, as McBride made his first start of the season for the Knicks and fifth start of his career.
McBride started two games in each of his first two NBA seasons and has been in and out of rotations, averaging just over eight minutes per game in the 2023-2024 season thus far. With the usual starting PG Jalen Brunson getting rested against a below .500 Memphis team, “Deuce” stepped up in a big way for New York.
After trailing the Grizzlies early, McBride made two threes in the first quarter to gain a Knicks lead. He made another one in the second quarter for 11 points and shot a perfect four-of-four from the field.
After an explosive first half, the 2021 second-round pick saw more and more opportunities as the game went on, and he capitalized. McBride scored a career-high 19 points to go along with six rebounds, five assists, a block and a steal.
Perhaps most impressive though, McBride helped his team all 38 minutes he was on the floor. With a team-high +13 plus/minus, Deuce’s efficient 4-for-7 three-point shooting and low three turnovers benefited the Knicks on all fronts.
New York took down the Grizzlies 106-94 in Memphis, thanks largely to McBride seamlessly filling in for Brunson. As the regular season progresses and maintaining Brunson’s health becomes more of a priority in New York, McBride has proven the stability he can bring to the team if necessary.
Photo courtesy of WVU Athletics
