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Report: The Westchester Knicks are opting in to the G League bubble

And they’re bringing some Kentucky bros with them

NBA: Portland Trail Blazers at San Antonio Spurs Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Yes, the Knicks play preseason basketball this Friday, but we also now know they’re signing up to have the Westchester Knicks play ball in the NBA’s yet-to-be-officially-announced G League bubble.

What’s the deal with this G League bubble? Well, it’s not really all that clear just yet. All that we know is that it’s supposed to be happening in Atlanta and will require an entrance fee from competing teams around $500,000. For an NBA team that would seem like small potatoes, but considering the investment is just for a G League season, some teams apparently don’t see the utility (and it’s unsurprising that most of the reportedly opted-out teams are contenders that probably have less use for a farm system).

The Knicks are going to have some NBA bodies with their G League team too, as the signings are already flying in. First, the Knicks signed former Kentucky star recruit Skal Labissiere, who was No. 2 behind Ben Simmons in the ESPN 100 ranking of high school players back in 2015. He’s had a pretty tumultuous route since getting drafted in the first round of the 2016 draft, ultimately now landing him on the Knicks’ G League squad, presumably trying to earn a deal with the Knicks or just resuscitate his value in general.

The Knicks also signed former Kentucky Wildcat James Young to the team as well, who was drafted by the Celtics in 2014 but hasn’t seen NBA action since 2017-18. He’s had a really prolific G League career to this point, though. The Knicks also re-signed Andrew White, who played for Westchester last season.

Additionally, the Knicks just signed Jaren Jackson Sr. (dad of current Memphis Grizzly Jaren Jackson Jr. [eye emoji eye emoji]) to help in some capacity with the W-Knicks as well.

If I was a betting man, I’d probably also bet on Myles Powell getting cut from the big Knicks on his Exhibit 10 deal and getting paid a nice little premium to play for the W-Knicks until such a time that the Knicks make a midseason trade and clear up a roster spot for him.

So with all that said, sounds like Knicks fans will have something to look forward to in the G League this year in addition to just the big leagues!