Preseason Game Preview: Knicks vs. 76ers, Oct. 2, 2025

In Abu Dhabi, Mike Brown tests his scheme with a new team.

Summarized by AI ⓘ

What is the story about?

The Knicks’ preseason starts today in Abu Dhabi. This first of two tune-ups against the 76ers gives us a chance to see how Mike Brown’s plan will actually work. Since joining the team this summer, Brown has said that he wants pace, spacing, and shooting. Today’s soft-open scrimmage gives him a controlled environment to test whether personnel and schemes align with that mandate and whether the front office’s offseason signings have fortified a championship infrastructure or were merely cosmetic upgrades.

The primary on-court question concerns the fifth starter. Josh Hart offers playoff-proven defense and toughness; Mitchell Robinson brings rim protection and paint dominance; Deuce McBride supplies two-way energy; and Jordan Clarkson could be a surprise insert, given his scoring chops. If Brown prioritizes spacing and offense, the nod could go to McBride or Clarkson; if he leans defensively, Hart or Robinson makes more sense.

Obviously, whoever gets the nod today guarantees nothing, but the choice gives us a peek inside Brown’s masterplan.

We’ll also be watching how Brown deploys Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Since arriving in New York, the new skip has pontificated at some length about his strategy for Towns (e.g., more threes). Today’s soft-open gives us a chance to see how that translates to the court.

This summer’s additions (Gershon Yabusele, Jordan Clarkson, and Malcolm Brogdon) were signed to bolster a bench that couldn’t buy a point. Will they create and convert high-value offense under pressure? How will they affect the team’s defensive identity? Yabu in particular looks like a potential multiplier for the second unit; if he supplies consistent shooting and strong closeouts, we’ll be sending him valentines.

With the starters on minutes limits, the young depth pieces like Ariel Hukporti and Tyler Kolek will get extended run. They’d be wise to use this audition time to impress Coach Mike.

Philly’s skipper Nick Nurse will test Brown’s defensive schemes early. The Flaming Cheesesteaks remain a Joel Embiid-centric team when the very expensive Cameroonian isn’t chilling on the sidelines. If he plays today, his minutes will be monitored, natch. Note: Embiid, Paul George, Trendon Watford, and Quentin “Just Signed” Grimes are all game-time-decisions; Jared McCain is out.

For the Knicks, Ariel Hukporti and Pacome Dadiet appear on the injury report as game-time-decisions.

Expect controlled minutes for stars and hungry play from depth players. As for Mike Brown, he still has that new car smell. We can’t fathom that anything he’ll do today will diminish our enthusiasm too terribly today.

Go Knicks.