Mikal Bridges is having a legitimately rough start to the 2026-27 season for the Knicks, and the talk about him potentially coming off the bench is heating up. After he was pulled from the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, head coach Mike Brown was asked about it, and his response was a cautious “no panic decision” pledge.
The Career-Low Dive for Bridges
We’re talking about a player with a “proven track record,” according to Coach Brown. But right now, the numbers for Bridges are screaming something different. He’s putting up just 6.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. Those are tough to swallow, but the shooting splits are where it really stings: a brutal 32.9 percent from the field and an even more jarring 26.5 percent from beyond the arc. He’s on pace for career lows in a bunch of categories, and honestly, you can see why Brown is getting questions. His minutes are also shrinking, averaging 25.1 per game so far this year, but that’s dipped to a mere 20.8 over the last five contests. It’s clear the guy is working through some serious struggles.
Shamet and McBride Are Making This Call Tough
Coach Brown did acknowledge the pressure, though. It’s not just Bridges struggling, it’s also Landry Shamet and Deuce McBride absolutely balling out. Brown said it himself, “Part of it is you have two guys that are playing really well in Landy and Deuce, so it’s gonna be hard to find minutes at times for Mikal, and maybe at times for Josh (Hart).” He wasn’t exaggerating either, praising their high-level play on *both* the offensive and defensive sides of the floor. So, while Brown is sticking to his guns about keeping Bridges in the starting lineup “for now” given his track record, you have to wonder how long he can hold out. If things don’t start clicking, and clicking fast, Brown might find himself with absolutely “no choice but to make a change.”
The early season is always about finding form, but for Mikal Bridges and the Knicks, it’s a real test right now. We’ll be watching to see if Brown’s patience pays off, or if the pressure from Shamet and McBride’s stellar play, combined with Bridges’ ongoing slump, forces his hand.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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