'Panic Decision,' Mikal Bridges Benching Addressed by Mike Brown After Knicks' Loss to Harden, Cavs

Mikal Bridges has had a rough start to the 2026-27 campaign, and it's fair to wonder whether New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown is considering bringing him off the bench rather than starting him.

After Bridges was benched in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Brown said he doesn't plan on making a "panic decision."

"Mikal has a proven track record of playing at a pretty high level as a starter in this league," Brown said. "For me to make a 'panic decision' and change it right now, 10 games in or whatever we are, I'm not feeling it."

Brown did recognize, however, that Landry Shamet and Deuce McBride's high level of play this year has made it difficult to balance out the minutes.

"Part of it is you have two guys that are playing really well in Landy and Deuce, so it's gonna be hard to find minutes at times for Mikal, and maybe at times for Josh (Hart)," Brown said. "Because those two guys are playing at a pretty high level. Not just on the offensive side of the floor but defensively too."

Bridges is putting up 6.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting just 32.9 percent from the field and 26.5 percent from deep, on pace for career lows in a number of categories.

He's averaged 25.1 minutes per game so far, but just 20.8 over the Knicks' last five games.

Bridges is clearly working through some struggles, but it appears Brown plans to keep him in the starting lineup for now. If things don't start clicking soon, though, Brown might have no choice but to make a change.