Knicks aim to raise 3-point volume under Mike Brown as team heads overseas

New York — Mike Brown is challenging the Knicks to increase their 3-point volume to about 40 attempts per game, a target the franchise has chased since Tom Thibodeau’s tenure, though it never materialized. The team will travel overseas to Abu Dhabi to play two exhibition games against the Philadelphia 76ers after their final practice Friday, signaling a new era with Brown at the helm. Brown spoke to the media on Friday, Sept. 24, 2025, and laid out a vision that centers on pace, spacing and quality looks. “If we get 40-plus, I’m cool with it, but they’ve gotta be good 3s,” he said, underscoring that volume alone won’t be enough without clean, high-percentage opportunities.

Brown is not simply chasing a higher number of 3s; he wants them to fit the offense. “I mean, if we get 40 I’m cool with it,” he said, “but they’ve gotta be good 3s.” He emphasized that the shots must come within the flow of the attack, with off-ball movement creating opportunities for catch-and-shoot attempts. “We’ve got a couple of guys that we’ll allow to dance with it and let it go, and they know who they are, but if we play like we’re capable of — with pace, especially spacing, and the paint touches — we should generate a lot of catch-and-shoot 3s,” Brown said. “If you’re open and your feet are set, especially if that ball hits the paint or we’ve got a cut or roll and it pulls the defense in and now we get a spray to a 3, we better let it fly. We better let it fly.”

Brown’s arrival comes with a broader plan to accelerate the pace and generate more possessions. The pace factor is particularly relevant: the Knicks last season ranked near the middle to bottom of the league in pace, a dynamic Brown hopes to shift in a quicker, more spacing-driven system. The roster move sheet provides a pathway to more three-point shooting, with the addition of players known for their outside proficiency and fit around a core that includes returning stars.

The 3-point volume backdrop helps explain why Brown is bullish on the available personnel. Last year, the Knicks shot 36.9 percent from deep, good for eighth in the league. They also hit 36.9 percent from three as a team, a mark that the New York rotation — including Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Miles McBride and Landry Shamet — has shown they can sustain. The caveat is timing and system: the group is learning a new offensive approach, and Brown has stressed the importance of pace, spacing and ball movement in practice.

Brown’s experience with the Sacramento Kings provides a useful benchmark for the kind of 3-point volume he envisions. In 2022-23, Sacramento ranked seventh in the league in 3-point attempts (37.3 per game) and climbed to third (39.3) the following season. Those figures illustrate what Brown believes is attainable with a high-tempo, offense-first style and a roster capable of distributing shots across multiple shooters. While Tom Thibodeau’s Knicks never sustained a high volume of 3s, Brown’s past success is noted as a guide for what could be possible in New York.

Returnees in the projected rotation give the Knicks a solid shooting foundation. Jalen Brunson, Towns, Anunoby, McBride and Shamet all reached or exceeded 36.9 percent from beyond the arc last season. The two players who aren’t typically viewed as shot creators from deep are Mitchell Robinson and Josh Hart, though Hart has shown he can knock in occasional 3-pointers. The roster is positioned to generate looks through ball movement and quick decision-making, but converting those looks into efficient 3-point opportunities will hinge on how quickly the group adapts to Brown’s system.

Brunson spoke to the media in the opening days of training camp, acknowledging the learning curve but expressing confidence that the components are in place. “I think, obviously, once we understand that and once we know where everyone’s going to be, whether we’re making plays for ourselves or for others, that’ll be a lot easier,” he said. The point guard added that familiarity with the roles and an emphasis on making the right reads should help the team maximize its outside shot opportunities as they build chemistry.

The Knicks are moving ahead with a plan to play faster and to generate more high-quality 3-point looks. Beyond the volume target, Brown’s approach centers on shot quality, spacing, and movement that draws the defense and creates open shots for sharpshooters. The team will test the approach in Abu Dhabi against the 76ers, a trip that marks the first step of a broader, ongoing process to redefine how New York attacks on offense.

The roster-building choices, including the addition of players who can space the floor, are intended to give Brown the flexibility to deploy multiple lineups that can push pace without sacrificing shot quality. The Knicks’ leadership has signaled a willingness to experiment with tempo and spacing as they acclimate to a new offensive framework, and the early weeks of training camp have been dedicated to understanding concepts, identifying floor spots, and building trust among players.

As the team prepares for overseas exhibitions and the longer NBA season ahead, the questions remain whether New York can transform intent into consistent execution. If Brown’s plan translates into both a higher volume of sustainable 3-point attempts and efficient shot selection, the Knicks could redefine their identity under their new coach and become a more dynamic threat from beyond the arc.

The road to 3-point prominence is not guaranteed to be smooth, given the need to mesh a new system with a group that has proven capable of shooting well in the aggregate. But Brown’s early emphasis on pace, spacing and decisions that leverage off-ball movement provides a coherent roadmap. If the Knicks can sustain quality 3-point shots at or near the 40-attempt target while maintaining efficiency, they could realize a more potent and versatile offensive profile this season.