SACRAMENTO — Knicks Prepare for Brown’s Return
The Knicks appear to be nearly at full strength for Mike Brown’s return to Sacramento. Notably, neither Gershon Yabusele nor Mitchell Robinson showed up on the injury report for Wednesday night’s game. The only player absent is Landry Shamet, who will miss his 25th straight game due to a sprained shoulder.
While Robinson is not injured, it is interesting that he wasn’t listed, especially since this is the starting point of back-to-back games. He has, well, missed both games this season as he takes time to recover from his surgically repaired ankle.
Usually, you’d expect Robinson to be called questionable for the first game, but thankfully, that’s not the case here. They will face the Warriors on Thursday, but if Robinson’s load management is still active, he might be sitting out in San Francisco rather than Sacramento.
On a different note, Yabusele is back after missing two games because of a quadriceps strain. He sustained the injury right after scoring eight points in 13 minutes against the Clippers, which was, I think, a strong outing for him with the Knicks. Interestingly, he had been back in the rotation for six consecutive games following Josh Hart’s injury.
Before this, Yabusele, the Knicks’ major signing this summer, had recorded DNPs for the last four years. Quite the turn of events, really.
Now, with Hart returning from his ankle sprain, Brown will have to juggle a heavier bench for what could feel like a revenge match against the Kings, who he parted ways with not long ago.
Brown reflected, saying, “It’s kind of emotional, coming back to a place we enjoyed.” He continued, “But in the end, when my fans cheer and give me a hug, they trust me. They want to beat me, and the Knicks. We want to do the same.”
As for the rest of the week, Brown has fortified his roster management for the game against the Blazers on Sunday, with players like Tyler Kolek, Kevin McCullar Jr., and Mohamed Diawara receiving shorter minutes or DNPs.
Sources have indicated that Yabusele might be on the trading block after a less-than-stellar start with the Knicks, with the deadline approaching on February 5th.
Meanwhile, Shamet, who joined the Knicks on the road this trip, is nearing a comeback after being cleared for contact following a shoulder dislocation on November 22.
Reflecting on a previous game, Jalen Brunson last played in Sacramento back in March 2024, pulling off a particularly clever play to secure a win against the Kings. With just about 40 seconds left on the clock and a three-point lead, he called for a screen, momentarily causing defender Keon Ellis to lose focus. This allowed Brunson to convert in the lane, securing the win.
Brunson fondly recalled, “It was crazy, it worked out. I don’t know how.” Brown, then the Kings’ coach, spoke highly of Brunson during the press conference afterward. Fast forward less than two years, and Brown’s now coaching the Knicks, while Brunson didn’t play in Sacramento last season due to an ankle sprain.
“I was really happy about Brown being hired,” Brunson mentioned. “I’ve heard of him; although we didn’t have a relationship, he always spoke positively about me. Getting to know him has just validated those thoughts. He’s a fantastic guy on and off the court, and having him around is a real blessing.”
