The New York Knicks are adjusting their rotation as injuries and roster decisions limit available options. Guerschon Yabusele has been pushed to DNP status and is roaming the trade block. Pacôme Dadiet, the Knicks’ only first-round pick still on the roster, no longer appears on Mike Brown’s minutes sheet. In turn, new minutes have begun to surface for younger players.
Kevin McCullar Jr. was the latest to benefit in Saturday night’s 128-125 win over the Atlanta Hawks. The 2024 second-round pick played a career-high 23 minutes and delivered his most productive NBA performance.
- Kevin McCullar Jr. delivered a breakout performance with 13 points, eight rebounds, and elite defense in a key win over Atlanta.
- Injuries to Josh Hart, Miles McBride, and Landry Shamet have pushed Mike Brown to expand his rotation and trust young players.
- The Knicks’ next-man-up approach and focus on development are paying off despite the roster looking different from what was expected.
Defensive Assignment Expands McCullar’s Minutes
McCullar was initially scheduled for a brief appearance. Mike Brown planned to insert him at the eight-minute mark of the first quarter to see how he handled defending Trae Young.
“I was going to throw him on Trae just to see what happens,” Brown said. “Kev’s a young, really good defender, has a great feel on both ends of the floor.”
That assignment quickly changed the plan. Trae Young finished the game with nine points and went scoreless when McCullar was his primary defender. Brown kept McCullar on the floor longer than expected as the game progressed.
McCullar recorded four rebounds, including three offensive rebounds, and an assist in his first five minutes. In the second quarter, he forced a loose ball, dove to recover it, moved to the corner, and made a three-pointer on the return pass. He scored seven points in the third quarter, including his third made three-pointer, helping New York withstand an early Atlanta surge. Brown kept him on the floor late, and McCullar was named the Knicks’ Defensive Player of the Game.
“You just have to stay ready at all times,” McCullar said. “Coach Brown trusts in one through 17 on the bench.”
He finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 23 minutes.
Injuries Drive Rotation Changes and Betting Movement
McCullar’s opportunity came as the Knicks played shorthanded again. Miles McBride has missed eight games with an ankle sprain but could return Monday. Landry Shamet has been out for more than a month with a shoulder injury and is hopeful for a return next month. Josh Hart suffered an ankle injury during the Christmas win over the Cleveland Cavaliers and is expected to miss New York’s entire road trip, including Monday’s game in New Orleans.
Hart’s absence affected both lineup decisions and the betting market. Ahead of the Knicks’ matchup with the Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center, sportsbooks listed New York as a significant road favorite.
DraftKings set the Knicks at -8.5 with a -360 moneyline and a total of 246.5. FanDuel also listed New York at -8.5, with a -334 moneyline and a 247.5 total. BetMGM matched the -8.5 spread with a 246.5 total. Covers’ odds boards showed spreads ranging from -7.5 to -9.5, totals extending into the low 250s at some books, and moneylines between -350 and -402.
Injury listings for the game included Hart (ankle), Mitchell Robinson (ankle), and Shamet (shoulder) as out. Miles McBride was listed as probable, while Tyler Kolek was questionable. For New Orleans, Dejounte Murray (Achilles) and Herbert Jones (ankle) were ruled out.
With New York missing multiple rotation players, Action Network analyst Joe Dellera highlighted Karl-Anthony Towns’ expanded role, recommending Towns over 36.5 points plus rebounds at -115, with the best price available at bet365. A related prop, Towns over 34.5 points and rebounds at -117, was also listed. No widely available Kevin McCullar Jr. player props appeared for the matchup.
Mike Brown’s Trusted Bench Continues to Grow
McCullar joined a bench group that includes Miles McBride, Mitchell Robinson, Jordan Clarkson, Tyler Kolek, Mohamed Diawara, and Landry Shamet. Robinson has been described as arguably the best offensive rebounder in the NBA. Clarkson has alternated strong scoring stretches with quieter games. Kolek has earned more minutes due to improved defense and opportunities to show playmaking. Diawara, a rookie with a long wingspan, has shown defensive potential while learning how to avoid disrupting the offense.
“That’s what having a team is about,” Brown said. “We’ve got to go to the next man.”
McCullar’s Background and Path to Opportunity
McCullar was selected 56th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft after sliding due to injury. As a senior at Kansas, he averaged 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in 26 games before a bone bruise in his right knee caused him to miss the end of the season and the NCAA tournament.
The injury delayed his professional start. He did not play in the summer league, missed training camp, and did not appear in games until late January with the G League’s Westchester team. In 13 games, he averaged 11.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 27.8 minutes, recorded two triple-doubles, and shot 22.2 percent from three-point range.
McCullar scored his first NBA points in March during a win over Dallas, a game in which Josh Hart set a franchise record for most triple-doubles in a season and later gave McCullar the game ball. Over the summer, the Knicks brought him back on another two-way contract. His summer league run ended early after he suffered a nasal contusion while diving for a loose ball during a 30-point performance against Boston.
That same style was evident against Atlanta, where McCullar filled minutes created by injuries and delivered measurable production on both ends of the floor.
