Garrison Mathews, 28, signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the New York Knicks aiming to supply perimeter shooting alongside Jalen Brunson.
The New York Knicks quietly pushed the needle on their bench rotation by signing 6-foot-6 guard Garrison Mathews to an Exhibit 10 contract as training camp approaches.
Mathews arrives after a 2024-25 season with the Atlanta Hawks in which he played 47 games, making two starts and averaging 7.5 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 17.7 minutes per appearance.
On the outside he offered real spacing value, hitting 1.8 three-pointers per game and maintaining a career stretch reputation that sits at or above the mid-30s in percentage terms.
A Franklin, Tennessee native, Mathews first cracked the league with the Washington Wizards ahead of the 2019-20 season following a four-year run at Lipscomb University.
He closed his collegiate career as a 2019 Atlantic Sun Player of the Year and a First-Team All-Atlantic Sun selection after averaging 20.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists across 36 starts while logging 30.1 minutes per game as a senior.
For a Knicks team that leans on Jalen Brunson to create and score, Mathews’ role projects as a second-unit specialist whose chief job is to catch and convert from deep.
Coaches value veterans who can step into lineups and stretch defenses. Mathews brings six seasons of NBA seasoning and a track record as a reliable pull-up or catch-and-shoot option. That kind of depth matters when roster rotations tighten and defenses key on primary scorers.
Training camp will decide whether Mathews sticks on the opening night roster or moves to an affiliate with an eye toward development, but his profile matches the Knicks’ current blueprint: guard-driven offense with spacing around its lead playmaker.
The signing also gives New York more roster flexibility. Mathews’ ability to play off the ball should free Brunson to attack closeouts, run pick-and-rolls and exploit mismatches without surrendering perimeter threat.
Expect Mathews to be measured by one thing: impact on floor spacing and three-point efficiency in limited minutes. If he hits at a respectable clip while defending his assignment with energy, he could become a late-game option for spacing and scoring.
Ultimately this move underlines a practical approach. The Knicks added a veteran wing shooter who knows his role and carries NCAA and NBA scoring pedigree. For fans watching camp, the key minutes will show whether Mathews fits cleanly into the rotation and how quickly he can contribute around Brunson.