Drew Eubanks Tears His Pectoral as the Knicks Plan to Waive Him

Update, Oct. 15: The Knicks are waiving Tony Bradley and Ochai Agbaji, ESPN's Shams Charania reported at 12:51 p.m. ET.

Photo: NBA.com. Drew Eubanks, New York Knicks center.

Knicks center Drew Eubanks tore his pectoral muscle and will be sidelined for an extended period, and New York will waive him, Shams Charania of ESPN reported Thursday. That leaves James Wiseman and Tony Bradley as the two bigs left for one minimum-salary seat, the 14th spot on a roster that cannot go deeper without crossing the second apron.

The math was already tight

New York carries 13 players on guaranteed contracts, per Hoops Rumors. Wiseman, Eubanks and Bradley all came to camp on Exhibit 9 deals that convert to standard, non-guaranteed minimum contracts only if the player makes the opening-night roster. Keeping two of them was technically possible. It also would have pushed the defending champions over the second tax apron, and James Dolan has said that will not happen.

Three centers came to camp chasing one chair, competing to be the third center behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond. Yahoo Sports put the Knicks about $3.2 million under the second apron, which is room for one more minimum deal and not much else. The injury leaves that single seat in place with one fewer name on the list.

Bruce Brown Jr. and Ochai Agbaji are also on camp deals, and The Athletic's James L. Edwards III wrote that all signs point to New York using the 14th spot on a center.

What Eubanks brought

Eubanks, 29, has played eight seasons for six NBA teams. He averaged 5.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in 42 games with Sacramento last season, per Hoops Wire, before a torn ligament in his left thumb ended his year with surgery in March. He had already fractured that same thumb in December.

Mike Brown was asked about the group Monday. "These guys are all legitimate NBA players," Brown said, per Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News. Brown also called it the best group of centers he has been around in a training camp.

Edwards wrote that Wiseman was the first camp big Brown tapped to check into games, with Eubanks and Bradley behind him.

Wiseman's last two weeks

Wiseman already had the lead, and Tuesday added to it. With the starters resting, he started and put up 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting with 10 rebounds in a 148-98 loss at Toronto, per NBC Sports.

Yahoo noted Wiseman has played five NBA games in the last two and a half years. He has 145 career games across three teams, and he is 25. Brown coached him at Golden State.

Bradley's lane

The Knicks brought the 6-foot-11 veteran into camp specifically to compete with Wiseman and Eubanks, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post, after sources said the team was prioritizing a center for the final spot. Winfield's read, relayed by Bleacher Report, is that the race for the spot narrows to Wiseman or Bradley, with Wiseman the favorite.

The deadline

Eubanks signed an Exhibit 9 deal, which would have converted only if he made the opening-night roster, per Hoops Rumors. Teams have until Monday, Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. ET to set regular-season rosters. New York can keep one of Wiseman or Bradley at the minimum and stay under the second apron.

Sources

• Shams Charania / ESPN via X. Oct. 15, 2026. "Knicks center Drew Eubanks sustained a torn pectoral muscle and will be sidelined for an extended period of time, sources tell ESPN. New York will waive Eubanks, who was competing for a reserve center spot in training camp."
• Bleacher Report: New Knicks Rumors on Roster Plans After Drew Eubanks' Pectoral Injury. Doric Sam, Oct. 15, 2026. Knicks expected to waive Eubanks. Kristian Winfield noted Wiseman and Bradley competing for the third-string center spot, with Wiseman the favorite.
• Hoops Rumors: Knicks Notes, Third Center, Second Apron. Luke Adams, Oct. 13, 2026. 13 guaranteed contracts, Exhibit 9 deals for Wiseman, Eubanks and Bradley, keeping two would cross the second apron, Brown quotes via Winfield, Edwards views Wiseman as frontrunner.
• Hoops Wire: Knicks add Drew Eubanks. Sam Amico, Sept. 15, 2026. One-year non-guaranteed deal. age 29. eight seasons, six teams. 5.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 0.6 blocks in 42 games with the Kings. thumb ligament surgery.
• Hoops Rumors: Knicks Sign Eubanks, Robbins. Exhibit 9 signed Sept. 16. December avulsion fracture and March torn UCL in the left thumb.
• Sporting News: Wiseman may have secured final roster spot. Hunter Cookston. Wiseman 18 points on 7-of-8 and 10 rebounds in a 148-98 loss to the Raptors (NBC Sports' Noah Rubin). Edwards on Brown tapping Wiseman first. Brown coached Wiseman at Golden State.
• Yahoo Sports: Knicks training camp battle. Knicks $3.2 million below the second apron. Bradley, Wiseman and Eubanks on training camp deals. Wiseman 145 career games, three teams, age 25.
• Yahoo Sports: Knicks decision for final roster spot. Wiseman has played five NBA games in the last two and a half years.
• New York Post: Frontrunner in battle for Knicks' final roster spot. Stefan Bondy, Oct. 2, 2026. Knicks prioritizing a center. 6-foot-11 Bradley brought in to battle Wiseman and Eubanks.
• Why NBA: Lakers roster moves. Regular-season rosters due Monday, Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. ET.