Knicks' bench bolstered by veteran talent of Jordan Clarkson, Guerschon Yabusele

GREENBURGH — One of the consistent critiques among the Knicks fan base — yes, there were critiques even as the team made it to the Eastern Conference finals and inspired parties in the streets of New York City — was that the coach, Tom Thibodeau, didn’t utilize his bench enough.

Much of that bench was either injured much of last season, looking for work still as training camps begin or still expected to be buried at the back end of the roster. But Mike Brown not only inherits the key parts of the rotation that led the Knicks to contention, but also arrives with a bench that has been bolstered by an infusion of ready-for-prime-time players.

His first task might be to choose a starting five and decide just who those main bench pieces will be with Josh Hart spending the first practice in the colors of the second unit while Mitchell Robinson was among the starters in blue — which Brown insisted not to read into, noting that it would change up Thursday. But those choices, along with the new pieces, will give him all sorts of options.

“Now it’s our job to figure out how to use this group,” Brown said. “Knowing that you have guys that you can throw into the game at any time is exciting . . . To be able to have guys, especially veteran guys that have been there and done that at your disposal makes it a lot of fun for a coach. Now like I said it’s my job to spend time and it’s going to take some time finding the right combinations to put out there on any given time.”

The two key signings were Jordan Clarkson, a long-established scorer off the bench, and Guerschon Yabusele, who after a brief time spent mostly on the bench in Boston after being draft in 2017 flourished overseas and then with Philadelphia last season. And just as the Knicks needed them, they needed a chance to play for a contender after showing up for lottery-bound teams last season.

Clarkson can provide the sort of instant offense off the bench that the team lacked last season. And Yabusele provides a versatile backup at center and power forward. Both had other options, maybe spots with more minutes assured or more chances to prove themselves worthy of a bigger contract, but opted to sign on with a team they watched closely as their seasons ended before the playoffs began.

Clarkson had a friend in Hart, who he’d played with on the Lakers, and they had texted in perhaps a mysterious bit of recruiting.

“He just shot me a text. I sent him double-zero,” Clarkson said. “He didn’t know what it meant but I’m here.”

He added of his conversations with Jalen Brunson, “That was just me telling him, ‘if you ever need to come off the bench and the timing is right, I’m here. I’m not looking for the ball but if you get in trouble in the last five, I’ll be around if you need somebody to throw it to.’

“Those were just little tidbits I’d throw to him like when we were at World Cup and stuff to put in his ear. But that was just all playful talk. But shoot, I’m here now.”

Not surprising that Clarkson would offhandedly use “shoot” in his discussion, because that is what he is known for.

“For me I’m going to be myself within what’s going on already,” Clarkson said. “I’m going to make my changes or whatever I got to do to fit in here, play the right way and figure that out. I know it’s the first day of training camp but definitely I feel like down the line, all the guys know, throw it to me and it’s getting in the air.

“Majority of time I feel like I’m open but that comes with a grain of salt. I’ve got to take good shots, play the right way as well.”

Brown added, “He’s a professional scorer. “ . . . He’s a capable passer. But I like the mindset that he has. You want guys that aren’t afraid of the moment, aren’t afraid to take the show, aren’t afraid to go get it. Because the more guys that you have like that, that puts pressure and a little bit of fear on your opponent. Because when the ball touches his hands, and your opponent isn’t doing their job. That things going up and it’s probably going to go in.”

By Steve Popper

steve.popper@newsday.com@StevePopper

Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.