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CHICAGO — A supposedly upgraded bench hasn’t looked it.
Newcomers Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele, whom the Knicks signed in the summer to create depth that was largely non-existent last season, have struggled to find a groove and earn Mike Brown’s trust.
Yabusele logged just three minutes in Friday night’s 135-125 loss to the Bulls and was benched for the entire second half. It was a troubling sign after the Knicks used most of their cap space to ink Yabusele as their only experienced backup in the front court.
He missed one game with a sprained knee, and is averaging just two points on 23 percent shooting, and just 11 minutes per game.
Brown said he benched Yabusele in Chicago because he was looking for defenders who could switch on screens.
“He may play a whole bunch of minutes at times, he may play a few, he may not play at all,” Brown said. “And that’s part of what our guys have to accept before we figure out what we want to do.”
Clarkson, meanwhile, is also operating on limited playing time, having been quickly supplanted in the rotation by Landry Shamet. Brown, according to sources, is a big fan of Shamet and pushed to keep him on the roster after the guard entered camp on a nonguaranteed deal.
But that also leaves Clarkson, a former Sixth Man of the Year winner, averaging just 14.8 minutes and 6.8 points on 29 percent shooting.
All of those stats would be career lows.
“I guess it’s whole new learning for me,” Clarkson told The Post. “New coach, new system, new team. Just trying to pick up on everything I can.”
The bench has endured problems other than the newcomers.
Josh Hart has played like a shell of himself through five games, clearly bothered by his surgically repaired finger and averaging just 2.8 points on 21 percent shooting in 22.3 minutes.
His struggles have translated to defense as well. Tyler Kolek’s playing time has declined since the opener, with Brown only trusting the point guard for four minutes in Chicago. He was also benched for the entire second half.
During the current three-game losing streak, the Knicks’ reserves have been outscored, 131-60.
That’s worse than last season. For any hope of success, the Knicks need a better bench.
“We have to give a little time first before I’m too worried about it,” Brown said, “but our bench does have to play better. We’ve got to knock those shots down or we’ve got to finish at the rim when we get there, or try to get out in transition to try to get a couple of easy baskets from those guys coming off the bench. Right now, we’re not doing any of it.”
