Deuce McBride Breakout: How the Knicks’ Rising Star Just Changed the NBA Playoffs

New York — The buzz around New York Knicks guard Miles “Deuce” McBride has reached a boiling point as the team prepares for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Indiana Pacers. The 24-year-old backup has turned limited minutes into maximum impact, igniting fan campaigns and analyst debates that he should replace Josh Hart in the starting lineup. McBride’s case is built on both numbers and intangibles. Since the start of the 2025 postseason he owns a +20.3 net rating, best among Knicks rotation players, while shooting 42.1 percent from three and averaging 1.8 steals per 36 minutes. His disruptive point-of-attack defense has bottled up Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton in critical fourth-quarter stretches, and his spot-up accuracy has forced Indiana to abandon its preferred drop coverage. Game 2 showcased everything the second-round pick out of West Virginia brings: 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting, two timely steals, and a momentum-swinging block that sent Madison Square Garden into a frenzy. Even in only 19 minutes of action, McBride posted a team-high +11 plus/minus, pushing his season total to +211—third-best among all NBA guards with at least 1,000 minutes played. ESPN cameras later caught head coach Tom Thibodeau pulling McBride aside for an extended courtside conversation that many interpreted as a sign of an expanded role to come. Outside the locker room, pressure is mounting. Knicks-centric podcast hosts, national talk-radio callers, and even former players have echoed the sentiment that Thibodeau must “unlock Deuce” if New York hopes to reach its first conference finals since 2021. A viral Post & Toasting column argued that inserting McBride would allow Jalen Brunson to play off-ball more often, alleviating defensive traps while increasing floor spacing. On social media, the hashtag #StartDeuce trended city-wide within hours of the Game 2 win. McBride’s emergence also carries roster-building implications. His three-year, $13.1 million contract is widely viewed as one of the NBA’s best bargains, prompting at least one speculative trade proposal linking him to the Charlotte Hornets for future draft capital. League executives tell Sports Illustrated that New York’s front office has no plans to move the guard, but rival interest underscores how rapidly McBride’s stock has risen. For McBride himself, the conversation hasn’t changed his trademark stoicism. “I stay ready,” he told reporters after practice Sunday. “Coach knows what I bring—defense, energy, toughness. Whether it’s five minutes or 35, the goal is to win.” That mentality resonates with a Knicks fan base that cherishes hustle as much as highlight plays. As tip-off approaches tonight at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, all eyes will be on Thibodeau’s first substitution. If McBride’s name is announced with the starters, it could mark a pivotal turning point in a postseason defined by unpredictability. If not, expect the drumbeat for Deuce to grow even louder—because in New York right now, the hottest ticket isn’t Broadway; it’s the Deuce show.