Knicks Lose Veteran Guard as Malcolm Brogdon Announces Retirement

After nine seasons in the NBA, New York Knicks veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon is walking away from basketball on his own terms.

“I am deeply grateful to have arrived to this point on my own terms and now to be able to reap the benefits of my career with my family and friends,” Brogdon said Wednesday via ESPN’s Shams Charania. “Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to all who have had a place in my journey.”

The 32-year-old veteran recently joined the Knicks on a camp deal before announcing his retirement. Over nine NBA seasons, Brogdon built a résumé defined by consistency, professionalism, and winning habits. He averaged 15.3 points, 4.7 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game across 463 appearances with shooting splits of 46.3% FG, 38.8% 3PT, and 87.4% FT.

A former Rookie of the Year (2017) and Sixth Man of the Year (2023), Brogdon’s best season came in 2020–21 with the Indiana Pacers when he averaged 21.2 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game. Off the court, he became known for his leadership and humanitarian work through his Hoops2O foundation, which funds clean water initiatives in East Africa.

Before the NBA, Brogdon starred at Virginia, where he was the 2016 ACC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year — the first player in conference history to win both awards in the same season.

Knicks Shift Focus to McBride, Clarkson, and Shamet

With Brogdon stepping away, new head coach Mike Brown inherits a backcourt that blends youth, shooting, and veteran scoring punch. The Knicks’ guard depth will now hinge on three key contributors: Miles McBride, Jordan Clarkson, and Landry Shamet.

McBride, the 24-year-old homegrown guard, is entering a pivotal fourth season. After years of waiting for consistent minutes, he’s finally positioned to become a full-time rotation player. Last season, he averaged 8.3 points per game on 45.2% shooting and 41.0% from three, while playing his usual brand of hard-nosed perimeter defense.

In the 2024–25 playoffs, McBride’s confidence and composure stood out. He hit clutch shots against Boston and proved he could handle postseason pressure, finishing with a positive plus-minus across 18 games. Under Brown, whose system emphasizes pace, ball movement, and defensive accountability, McBride could thrive as both a secondary playmaker and a tone-setting defender.

Clarkson and Shamet Bring Veteran Firepower

Jordan Clarkson, one of the NBA’s premier bench scorers, is expected to anchor New York’s second unit. The former Sixth Man of the Year has averaged over 15 points per game in six straight seasons and offers a reliable source of offense when the starters rest. Clarkson’s ability to generate instant scoring, create off the dribble, and provide energy fits perfectly within Brown’s uptempo system.

Landry Shamet, returning for his second season with New York, brings reliable perimeter shooting and system familiarity. A career 38% three-point shooter, he gives Mike Brown a dependable floor-spacer who can plug into multiple lineup combinations.

A Quiet End and a New Opportunity

Malcolm Brogdon’s surprising and sudden retirement marks a quiet end to an accomplished career — but also opens the door for opportunity. With Brogdon, who was likely to secure the lead sixth-man role, no longer in the mix, the Knicks now enter a three-way competition for key backcourt minutes between McBride, Clarkson, and Shamet.

How that rotation shakes out could become one of New York’s most important storylines throughout the 2025–26 season.

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