Malcolm Brogdon has joined the Knicks on a non-guaranteed deal, and he is confident in his ability to win a spot in training camp, writes Kristian Winfield for the New York Daily News. That confidence showed Brogdon’s claims that he turned down other chances with NBA teams in order to join New York.
“I come here with the expectation I’m going to make the team,” Brogdon said today. “I feel what I bring to the table and have to offer, I can help this team. The decision is out of my control but I feel like I have what it takes to help this team.”
Brogdon, a nine-year NBA veteran, holds career averages of 15.3 points, 4.7 assists, and 4.1 rebounds on .463/.388/.874
shooting splits, but three of the last four years have been beset by injuries, with him appearing in a career-low 24 games last season.
However, last season, as well as the previous one, also unfolded on teams that were not in win-now positions, and Brogdon said he’s feeling good about the chance to be back on a team with lofty ambitions.
“Going into my 10th year, I wanted to be in a good organization that’s competing and trying to win a championship,” he said. “I had that in Milwaukee, Boston, and here I think there’s a real shot.”
Winfield notes that ball-handling around star Jalen Brunson was a point of weakness for the Knicks last season, and that the addition of Brogdon, as well as free agent signing Jordan Clarkson, could go a long way in addressing that. Brogdon also brings a defensive steadiness that could allow him to play alongside Brunson.
Brogdon, for his part, is aware of the potential benefit he could bring in such minutes.
“Anything that can take pressure off Jalen is the big goal going forward with this team,” Brogdon said. “That’s what I want to do this year: Take pressure off him on both sides of the ball — and everybody else.”
He elaborated on this topic, and how he sees himself in the context of the team, writes Dan Martin for the New York Post.
“This is a roster that in the past has been in need of more ball handlers and more creators, more versatile players that can handle the ball,” Brogdon said. “I think I bring that. I can help guard. I’m a Swiss Army knife in a lot of ways and have a lot of strengths.”
Brogdon also believes that his experience in the recent phase of his career, as he’s become a bit more of a journeyman, can help him seamlessly integrate into new coach Mike Brown‘s system.
“The last three years I’ve had three different systems, different playing styles and different coaches,” Brogdon said. “I do think that gives me an edge on other new guys coming here, being able to adjust fast. I think that’s what this league is all about: Who can adjust fastest.”
Brogdon added that he’d been talking to the Knicks for a while before signing the Exhibit 9 deal with them.
“I was really set on being on the Knicks,” he said.