Knicks’ Miles McBride Reflects on How His ‘Resiliency’ Helped Him Become an NBA Champion (Exclusive)

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Miles McBride in Game 4 of the NBA Finals
Credit: Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty

NEED TO KNOW​

• Knicks guard Miles "Deuce" McBride tells PEOPLE how his "resiliency" led him to becoming an NBA champion in 2026
• McBride recalls driving to Connecticut to play in the G-League and how he "stayed patient" and "kept working"
• "It wasn't really handed to me, I just always had that mindset, just continue to work, and it'll pay off," McBride tells PEOPLE

Before NBA champion Miles "Deuce" McBride was playing in the NBA Finals, the 25-year-old Knicks guard was just vying for playing time at Madison Square Garden.

"To think back, I was driving up to Bridgeport, Connecticut, you know, to play in G-League games," says McBride — who has been with the Knicks since 2021, but played his first two seasons with New York's G-League squad, the Westchester Knicks — in an interview with PEOPLE on Friday, June 19. "I stayed patient. The organization, the coaching staff, and my teammates all just believed in me. I kept working."

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Miles McBride in Game 4 of the NBA Finals
Credit: Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty

McBride says it was that "resiliency" that helped him and the Knicks get the job done against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on June 13, with New York clinching its first championship title since 1973. "And that resiliency paid off, I became an impactful player just through work," he continues.

"It wasn't really handed to me, I just always had that mindset, just continue to work and it'll pay off. I knew I was talented enough. I knew I had a lot of the intangibles to make it work. Sometimes, things just take longer, and I think that's God's way of just making you ready for big-time moments, as long as you just prepare for them."

In addition to being an NBA champion, McBride has another impressive title on his resumé: author. Last summer, he released his first children’s book called Deuce: The Champion of Friendship, which was an Amazon bestseller in its category. To celebrate the Knicks championship, the book has been re-released with a special championship edition!

McBride's book aims to teach young readers the importance of inclusion through the world of sports. Readers are encouraged to think about themes of anti-bullying and unity through the story.

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Miles McBride on June 10, 2026 at Madison Square Garden
Credit: Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty

McBride tells PEOPLE he even had readers coming up to him at the Knicks' championship parade on Thursday, June 18. "At the parade, people are coming up to me, talking about how much their kids love the book, and how much they love reading it to them, and, you know, to know I'm bringing families together, and they're spending time, and, you know, kids are really looking up to me, it's such a special feeling."

The Knicks guard says he plans to enjoy his "championship summer" this offseason and then it's straight "back to work" for McBride. "It's fun to celebrate now, but truthfully, in the back of my mind, I'm excited to get back to work," he says, adding that the Knicks next goal is "without a doubt, doing it again."

Read the original article on People

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