Knicks sign 6-foot-6 former Celtics guard to assist Jalen Brunson

The New York Knicks have paired Jalen Brunson with an above-average three-point shooter, at least for training camp. 

A 6-foot-6 former Boston Celtics guard recently agreed to a deal with the Knicks after spending the 2024-25 season with the Atlanta Hawks. 

“The New York Knicks announced today that the team has signed Garrison Mathews to an Exhibit 10 contract,” the franchise said in an official statement. “Mathews, 28-years-old,  averaged 7.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.8 three-pointers over 17.7 minutes in 47 games (two starts) for the Atlanta Hawks this past season.”

“The Franklin, Tennessee-native originally joined the Washington Wizards prior to the 2019-20 season following his four-year collegiate career at Lipscomb.”

“Mathews was named the 2019 Atlantic Sun Player of the Year and earned 2019 First-Team All-Atlantic Sun honors after averaging 20.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists over 30.1 minutes in 36 games (all starts) as a senior.”

Matthews could perform adequately as a second-unit three-point specialist with the Knicks. 

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The Lipscomb product has a respectable NBA resume through six seasons, connecting on at least 34% of his triples with the Wizards, Houston Rockets, and Hawks (he signed with the Celtics in 2021 but didn’t last past training camp). 

Matthews is a 38.2% career long-range shooter, but still seeks stability in a league where constant movement is far from rare. 

Could the Knicks help the undrafted journeyman find what he’s looking for? Only time will tell. 

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