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Jalen Brunson and Miles McBride will be the starting and backup point guard for the New York Knicks this season.
The New York Knicks got an encouraging Miles McBride update just as they were hit with troubling news on Jalen Brunson.
With Brunson ruled out for Tuesday’s game against the Indiana Pacers due to right ankle management and a neck strain, McBride has taken a key step forward in his recovery — returning to contact drills for the first time since undergoing surgery in early February.
According to Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News, McBride (pelvis) has advanced into the later stages of his rehab, though the Knicks have not provided a firm timetable for his return.
Knicks Get Much-Needed McBride Injury Update
GettyMiles McBride of the New York Knicks reacts to a foul call during the first quarter of the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden.
The Miles McBride injury update comes as a welcome development for a Knicks team dealing with uncertainty in the backcourt.
“Encouraging news: Deuce McBride is taking contact, according to Mike Brown,” Stefan Bondy of the New York Post wrote on X. “He hasn’t played since January and said he’s hoping to return before the playoffs. Game 1 is a month away.”
James Edwards III of The Athletic echoed that report, noting that McBride is “doing on-court activities and taking contact,” per head coach Mike Brown.
The return to contact work is a key milestone in McBride’s recovery. While it does not guarantee an imminent return, it typically signals that a player is nearing full practice clearance — one of the final steps before being game-ready.
For the Knicks, it’s the most tangible progress update they’ve received in weeks.
From Uncertainty to Optimism
Just weeks ago, the outlook surrounding McBride’s recovery was far less certain.
Speaking in late February, McBride acknowledged there was no clear timeline for his return and described the process as gradual.
“I hope to come back for the regular season, but I don’t know. It’s a slow process,” McBride said at the time.
He added that he had only begun shooting without jumping, highlighting how limited his activity remained during the early stages of rehab.
McBride also revealed that the core muscle injury requiring surgery was discovered after he sought medical evaluation for multiple lingering issues.
According to The Athletic, McBride said he initially went in to have his ankle and other ailments examined before doctors identified the underlying core injury that ultimately required surgery.
Timeline Still Unclear for Knicks Guard
McBride underwent surgery on Feb. 6 and was initially expected to return within a six-to-eight-week window.
That timeline leaves open the possibility of a late-March return, but his cautious progression suggests there are no guarantees.
If his recovery trends toward the longer end of that window, McBride could miss most — if not all — of the remaining regular season, which concludes April 12. The NBA playoffs are set to begin on April 18.
For a Knicks team positioning itself for the postseason, his availability remains a key question.
Why McBride’s Return Matters
Before the injury, McBride was in the midst of the most productive season of his career.
The 25-year-old guard was averaging 12.9 points, 2.9 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 28 minutes per game while shooting 42 percent from three-point range — the best mark on the Knicks roster.
His ability to defend opposing guards, space the floor and play alongside Brunson made him one of New York’s most trusted rotation players, particularly in closing lineups.
Since his absence, the Knicks have had to reshuffle their backcourt rotation, placing additional pressure on their remaining guards.
Knicks Balancing Patience With Urgency
With Brunson sidelined and the playoffs approaching, the Knicks are walking a fine line between urgency and caution.
McBride’s return — even if it comes late in the regular season — could provide a significant boost to the team’s depth and perimeter defense heading into the postseason.
But the organization has made it clear it will not rush the process.
For now, the latest Miles McBride injury update offers something the Knicks have lacked in recent weeks: momentum.
And with time running short before the playoffs, even incremental progress could prove significant.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
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