Knicks guard Miles McBride has learned a lot since entering the NBA in 2021, and is now sharing his wisdom with rookie Ariel Hukporti.
“Don’t throw these minutes away,” McBride told Hukporti during Friday’s win over the Indiana Pacers. “That’s how I earned minutes. You know what I’m saying? That’s how I earned it. And this little time, that’s how he [Tom Thibodeau] builds trust.”
McBride averaged just 9.3 minutes per game over 40 contests during his rookie season in 2021-22. That number grew to 11.9 minutes per game during the 2022-23 season and 19.5 minutes per game last year over a career-high 68 games played.
Now in his fourth season, McBride is averaging 23.0 minutes over New York’s first two games of the 2024-25 season. He learned early on that Thibodeau’s coaching style is built on trust, and while it can be hard to make an impact during limited minutes as a younger player, those few minutes you do play matter.
Hukporti logged roughly six minutes of action in the Knicks’ season-opening loss to the Boston Celtics and played another 5:43 on Friday night.
The 22-year-old from Germany must’ve taken what McBride told him to heart, as he showed his defensive ability by blocking two shots against Indiana. He now has three blocks and five total rebounds in about 12 minutes of NBA-action.
Continuing to contribute, despite limited time on the court, will be the key for Hukporti’s growth. If he keeps showing flashes like he did against the Pacers and listens to the advice from McBride, it could earn him more playing time under Thibodeau.