The Knicks’ training camp suddenly became vastly more interesting this week when the team signed five veterans to Exhibit 9 training-camp deals: Bruce Brown, John Konchar, Ochai Agbaji, Drew Eubanks, and James Wiseman.
As Ian Begley (SNY) observed, “The veteran camp battles at this point are for a backup center spot (Eubanks vs. Wiseman) and a wing spot (Brown vs. Konchar vs. Agbaji).” Right on, a little MMA in the NBA! Are any of those names unfamiliar to you? Rest easy, friend: here’s a brief bio
for each of the players named.
James Wiseman is a verrry interesting prospect. Drafted second overall by Golden State in 2020, he debuted as a promising center and averaged 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds before a meniscus injury sidelined him for all of 2021-22. Traded to Detroit mid-2022-23 season, he showed flashes of efficiency (career 56% FG) but struggled with consistency and had limited opportunities. From there he bounced to Indiana, where an Achilles tear cost him most of 2024-25.
Across 152 career games (56 starts), Wiseman has averaged nine points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Is this the case of a great talent, snakebit by injury, who is ready to finally prove his mettle on the biggest stage? Or is he damaged goods and a quick cut from camp? When a player profiles at 6’11”, 240lb—and since we just watched Mitchell Robinson leave for Boston—we’re excited to find out if he can fill out the center depth.
Drew Eubanks, an undrafted 6’10” big out of Oregon State, signed with the Spurs in 2018 and has carved out a steady NBA career as an efficient, defensive-minded big man across multiple teams. After four seasons with the Spurs, he moved to Portland (where he posted a career-high 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game as a starter in 2021-22), then dated Phoenix, Utah, the Clippers, and the Kings.
In 426 career games (86 starts), Eubanks has averaged 5.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 15.1 minutes while shooting 60% from the floor. He’d bring reliable rim protection and interior scoring off the bench, which would be a nice insurance behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond. (We have not confirmed if he’s related to the legendary Bob Eubanks.)
An undrafted 6’5″ wing out of Purdue Fort Wayne, John Konchar signed a two-way deal with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2019 and spent the bulk of his career there as a defensive specialist and sparkplug off the bench (and occasional starter). Over seven seasons mostly with Memphis—plus a mid-2025-26 trade to the Utah Jazz and his brief stop with Minnesota—he has appeared in 363 regular-season games (65 starts), averaging four-ish points, four rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 0.9 steals in 17.6 minutes. He’s shot 47% from the field and 35% from downtown. He’s a Josh Hart-style rebounder, capable of chasing down impossible balls and stuffing Anthony Davis at the rim (he has, Google it).
Konchar chose the Knicks over several other teams after being waived by the Timberwolves for salary purposes. While the Knicks are flush with guards and wings, he brings a strong defensive skill-set that could save some mileage on OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges during the regular season.
Bruce Brown, a wily 6’4″ guard-forward drafted 42nd overall by the Pistons in the 2018, has built a reputation as a hard-nosed, cowboy-hat-wearing, multi-positional defender, and connector over eight seasons. Following two terms in Detroit and two in Brooklyn, he thrived as a key bench piece for the 2023 champion Nuggets (he averaged 11.5 points that season), then bounced between the Pacers, Raptors, Pelicans, and a return to Denver.
In 539 career games (272 starts), he has averaged 8.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 0.9 steals in 24.8 minutes while shooting 47.6% from the field. Last season, he appeared in all 82 regular-season games (starting four), averaging 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and one steal in 24.4 minutes per game while shooting 48% from the field and 39% from three. He’s also a fan of country music, so it’s only natural that he would get Robinson’s old locker, which, we’re told, still smells of hay.
Ochai Agbaji was drafted 14th overall by the Cavs in the 2022 but was traded to the Utah Jazz before the season began as part of the Donovan Mitchell deal. He spent his first two seasons in Salt Lake City (2022–24), then was traded to Toronto in February 2024. In Canada, he posted career-best averages of 10.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 2024–25. After playing part of the 2025–26 season with the Raps, he was dealt to the Nets at the trade deadline. Through four NBA seasons he has averaged roughly 7.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.
His shooting percentages are all over the map, but he’s another lanky, versatile defender who could lighten the load for the Knicks starters on the long slog to repeating a championship.
New York has room for two more standard contracts, but keeping two camp veterans would likely require a salary-clearing trade to remain below the second apron. The Knicks also have three open two-way spots—Kevin McCullar Jr. remains under consideration, while second-round pick Tyler Nickel is expected to receive one. Get your popcorn ready!
Go Knicks.
