Key stats show Malcolm Brogdon’s retirement was a blessing in disguise for the New York Knicks

Malcolm Brogdon recently made the surprising decision to retire from the NBA after nine seasons.

Brogdon signed a one-year contract with the New York Knicks in the summer and appeared in several preseason games.

He was expected to play a key role on Mike Brown’s bench unit, but still decided he no longer wanted to be on the team.

NBA analysis Here’s a look at the key stats that suggest Brogdon’s retirement is actually a good thing for the Knicks.

Brogdon enjoyed a stellar NBA career as a 15-point-per-game scorer, solid playmaker, and defender.

He almost became an All-Star when he averaged over 21 points for the Indiana Pacers in 2020-21.

But Brogdon has regressed more than many basketball fans realized over the past few seasons.

He still put up decent numbers, but his shooting efficiency dropped significantly over the last two teams.

Last season with the Washington Wizards, Brogdon shot just 43 percent from the field and 29 percent from three.

Normally, a player’s down year would be forgivable, but Brogdon’s performance with the Knicks this preseason was also disappointing.

He shot less than 30 percent and proved he won’t be a huge contributor even off the bench this season.

It’s never ideal for a player to retire a week before the season, but the Knicks are in a good position to deal with Brogdon’s absence.

Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges will be the Knicks’ starting backcourt and one of the best backcourts in the league.

After that, Brown plans to bring Myles McBride and Jordan Clarkson off the bench and use Tyler Kolek as needed.

The Knicks’ frontcourt options are also great, making them one of the best rosters in the entire NBA.