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Miles 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 New York Knicks could soon be facing another difficult roster dilemma — one that may not fully come into focus until the final weeks of the regular season.
Miles McBride Injury Clouds Knicks’ Late-Season Chemistry
According to the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy, Knicks guard Miles McBride could miss the remainder of the regular season as he recovers from core muscle surgery, leaving little time to reintegrate into a reshaped rotation before the playoffs.
Bondy reported that McBride has been traveling with the team but was told his recovery timeline is six to eight weeks. McBride underwent surgery on Feb. 6, meaning the earliest possible return would come in the final week of March. If the recovery stretches closer to eight weeks, he would miss the rest of the regular season, which concludes April 12.
The NBA playoffs are set to begin on April 18.
The timing could hardly be worse for a Knicks team that has undergone significant bench changes at the trade deadline while trying to preserve chemistry heading into the postseason.
Knicks’ Rising Backup Was Having the Best Season of His Career
Before the injury, McBride was in the midst of the most productive season of his NBA career. The 25-year-old was averaging career highs across the board, posting 12.9 points, 2.8 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and nearly one steal per game while logging 28.0 minutes per night, primarily off the bench.
The former 36th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft had also emerged as one of the Knicks’ most dependable perimeter threats. McBride was shooting 42% from three-point range on nearly seven attempts per game, the best mark on the team, giving New York a reliable floor-spacer who could punish defenses for loading up on Jalen Brunson.
His combination of shot-making and on-ball defense made him a fixture in closing lineups — a role that now belongs to a new arrival.
McBride is currently in the middle of a three-year, $13 million contract, a deal widely viewed around the league as one of the Knicks’ best values.
Jose Alvarado Steps Into the Void
With McBride sidelined, the Knicks turned to Jose Alvarado, whom they acquired at the trade deadline from the New Orleans Pelicans at the trade deadline in exchange for Dalen Terry, two second-round picks, and cash considerations.
The Brooklyn native has quickly won over Madison Square Garden. Through his first seven games with New York, Alvarado has averaged 9.4 points, 3.6 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.0 steals, injecting defensive pressure and energy into the second unit.
A Gamble That Sparked the Garden
Alvarado’s defining moment came during the Knicks’ most dramatic comeback of the season.
Facing an 18-point deficit entering the fourth quarter last week against the Houston Rockets, Knicks head coach Mike Brown rolled the dice with a high-energy lineup anchored by Alvarado.
Brown rode Alvarado for nearly the entire fourth quarter of a stunning 108–106 comeback win, and the guard delivered.
In nearly 11 minutes of fourth-quarter action, Alvarado produced five points, three assists, and three steals, completely flipping the game’s momentum. His three-pointer at the 8:03 mark capped a 14–2 run that trimmed Houston’s lead to 99–97.
Moments later, back-to-back steals led directly to a transition basket by Alvarado and a reverse layup from Brunson, tying the game at 103–103 with 1:26 remaining.
Alvarado finished with eight points, five steals, and four assists. The shooting line — 3-of-9 from the field — barely told the story. It marked the third five-steal game of his career, with two of those coming in the last 10 days — both as a Knick.
Nicknamed “Grand Theft Alvarado,” he said Madison Square Garden brings out a different edge.
“It’s kind of like a pride thing,” Alvarado said, per the New York Post. “When I play here, it’s like playing for my hometown or my national team. I always feel like I gotta represent on another level.”
A Looming Playoff Rotation Decision
McBride’s eventual return — whether late in the regular season or just before the playoffs — will give Brown another variable to manage as he tightens his rotation. Postseason lineups typically shrink to seven or eight players, and reintegrating a key contributor on short notice is rarely seamless.
Still, the Knicks know the alternative is worse.
Last postseason, New York was outpaced and outlasted by the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, in part due to limited depth and fatigue.
This time, the Knicks may have more options — but also more difficult choices.
Whether McBride can return in time to reclaim his role, or whether Alvarado’s emergence reshapes the playoff pecking order, could ultimately become one of the defining swing factors in New York’s title push.
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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