In Mike Brown's first regular-season game as the New York Knicks' head coach, he did the unthinkable, or what was previously inconceivable under Tom Thibodeau. In the first half alone, Brown played 11 different players. Watching it happen felt illegal.
New York started Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Ariel Hukporti, as Mitchell Robinson is out due to ankle injury management. Josh Hart is out, too. Brown turned to some of the younger players, with Hukporti starting, and rookie Mohamed Diawara getting some run in the first quarter.
A rookie, playing for the Knicks in the first quarter of the first regular-season game?