Stephen A. Smith might not know who he is, but Miles “Deuce” McBride is beloved in New York City.
He’s a rotation player, sure, but he’s a big enough deal to have fans chanting his name at The Seaport after a Jonas Brothers set. And while NBC played it off like they just happened to spot him in the crowd during the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Show, McBride’s appearance was anything but random. It was clearly part of the plan.
NBC’s Dylan Dreyer called McBride’s presence “fitting,” which is a curious way to describe someone who was literally there on behalf of the network. And while it was presented as an ordinary celebrity sighting in the city that never sleeps, it felt much more like a soft launch.
At the very least, it seemed like the perfect way to subtly tease that the NBA is coming back to NBC for the first time in nearly 25 years.
“The NBA is returning to NBC and Peacock, and it’s starting off with that tip-off for the first game of the 2025 season,” Dreyer said.
That could mean any number of things. But many fans took it as a not-so-subtle hint that the Knicks, with McBride playing a role, might be part of NBC’s NBA return. The full schedule typically becomes available in mid-August, so we don’t know for sure who will play on Opening Night. Still, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Knicks help usher the NBA into a new era on NBC for the first time in a quarter century.
The NBA on NBC will look to blend nostalgia with today’s game, so what better place than the mecca — Madison Square Garden — and what better team than the Knicks, who are running roughshod over the league for the first time since the ’90s?
It’s all speculation for now, but there’s enough here to suggest the Knicks could be in the mix to play the first NBA game on NBC in 25 years.