Deuce McBride is a newly-minted NBA champion with the Knicks and has a few thoughts on what it takes to win.
McBride, a key reserve guard for a team that won its first championship in 53 years, said every player must buy into his role and embrace it, something that was clearly evident on this Knicks team.
Advertisement
In an appearance last week at Fanatics Fest in New York, McBride blamed the NBA culture for rewarding “guys that lose” and said not enough players embrace their roles.
The Knicks are +850 on FanDuel to win the 2027 NBA Finals and repeat as champions. Our comprehensive FanDuel Sportsbook review shows you how to sign up and use their app.
“If more guys bought in and understood their role, the NBA would look a lot different,” he said.
“I give so much credit to KAT. You’re No. 1 your whole life and you come here and, not necessarily take a back seat, but you understand that you’re playing with a very talented player [Jalen Brunson]. And for a lot of guys not even drafted No. 1 [overall], maybe drafted in the second round, they can’t comprehend that mindset because they’ve been the best on their team…To have that mindset of I want to win. And I think a lot of guys care about winning, but in the sense of…
Advertisement
“And honestly, I think it’s the NBA’s fault because we reward guys that necessarily don’t win. We reward guys that lose sometimes, we pay guys that lose truthfully.
“I think the NBA has gotta do a better job of rewarding winning, guys that impact the game.”
The Knicks know they have a winning core and re-signed reserves Jose Alvarado, Landry Shamet, Jordan Clarkson and Mohamed Diawara in free agency.
MORE BY
ADAM ZAGORIA
Ex-Rutgers, N.J. HS baseball star suffers ruptured testicle in MLB gameJul. 22, 2026, 12:09 p.m.
Yankee legend’s son latest to sign with MLB teamJul. 22, 2026, 9:01 a.m.
They lost big men Mitchell Robinson (Celtics) and Ariel Hukporti (76ers) but signed free agent reserve big man Andre Drummond.
Advertisement
Meantime, Brunson recently illustrated his timeline on return from left wrist surgery.
“My tendon and my structure of my wrist is fine,” he said in a recent interview. “There was soft tissue that was holding my tendon and it kept flipping and snapping over the bone every time I shot, every time I flicked my wrist. And so clearly it was causing pain, causing friction. But I was obviously able to play through it. I’ll be in this [cast] for about another 6 weeks and then from that point on it’s just my rehab after that––but I should be good, I should be good”
Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
