Knicks Summer League Preview

Jean Montero spent last season playing for Team Overtime in the Overtime Elite League, where he averaged a team-high 17.1 points to go along with 6.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 3.5 steals per game.

After two months of draft debates, free agency rumors and watching other teams play, Knicks fans will get to watch some actual basketball over the next two weeks. 

New York plays their first Las Vegas Summer League contest Friday night when they take on the Warriors. The game tips off at 8:00 pm EST and will be broadcast on ESPN2.

Here's the remainder of the Knicks schedule:
Sunday, July 10 vs. Chicago at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN2
Monday, July 11 vs. Portland at 11 p.m. ET on ESPN2
Thursday, July 14 vs. Orlando at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBATV

Every team will also play at least one playoff game, so they'll participate in five contests at a minimum.

The roster will feature three Knicks who saw playing time with the big club last season: Miles "Deuce" McBride, Quentin Grimes and Jericho Sims. Feron Hunt, who signed a two-way contract with the Knicks in March and appeared in two games, is also on the squad. 

After slipping into the second round of the 2021 draft, McBride opened some eyes in Las Vegas last August. Over the six games New York played in last year's summer league, Deuce averaged 15.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 3.0 made triples. He disrupted opponents' flow with his defensive intensity while scoring efficiently on the other end. Over his first three contests, McBride shot 62.5% from the floor, 61.5% from downtown and 87.5% from the free-throw line. 

Despite dominant performances in the G League in 2021-22 and solid contributions in limited action for the big club when afforded rare opportunities, McBride couldn't crack coach Tom Thibodeau's rotation as a rookie. Even when Thibs inserted Deuce into the lineup, McBride rarely was asked to handle the point. Instead, he played alongside IQ or another guard tasked with bringing the ball up the floor and initiating the offense. 

In Vegas, McBride will be the team's primary PG (unless Thibs forces Leon Rose to sign Alec Burks for a summer league stint). Thus, these handful of games are important for McBride to show the Knicks coaching staff that he can handle the increased responsibility that comes with running the show and setting the table for his teammates and himself. With Jalen Brunson now in New York, and a healthy Derrick Rose back in the mix, PG minutes will be hard to come by in 2022-23.