The Knicks were looking for more bench production. Cameron Payne delivered.

Terry Johnson is earning his stripes in NYC.

It’s no secret that one of the New York Knicks’ biggest flaws this season has been their depth.

Outside of their starting five (Brunson, Bridges, Anunoby, Hart, Towns), Tom Thibedau has been looking for rotational answers. With Mitchell Robinson sidelined for at least several more weeks while rehabbing ankle surgery, and Precious Achiuwa still dealing with a hamstring injury, the Knicks’ bench has looked thin to start the season.

Add in the fact that Deuce McBride has been sidelined for the last four games, and it becomes increasingly apparent that the Knicks need someone off the bench to step up in the wake of these absences.

Enter Cam Payne.

Payne has been a main factor in the Knicks fighting to a 4-0 record since McBride has gone down, averaging 12 points and 4 assists per appearance across that span. His energy matches the New York tempo perfectly, and he provides a spark off the bench that the Knicks are sorely lacking in otherwise.

His playmaking and shooting compliment the skillset of the starting five, with the Knicks averaging 127.5 points per game during their win streak.

Their offense remains one of the best in the league, second in offensive net rating only to the 16-1 Cleveland Cavaliers.

While fans were clamoring for Tyler Kolek to assume backup PG roles off of the bench before the season, Payne has kept him at arm’s length with his performance. The one year, $3.1 million deal may have caught fans off guard initially, but it’s hard to deny that Leon Rose & Co made a solid pickup.

Payne initially struggled to adjust to the NBA, shooting under 40% from the floor across his first four seasons in the league. But he found his stroke with the Phoenix Suns in 2020-21, and went from a meme player to a bonafide playoff piece.

He spent some time with both Philly and Milwaukee last season before heading on over to the Big Apple.

It’ll be interesting to see how Thibs manages his rotation at full health, but even if Payne eventually ends up with a handful of DNPs, the Knicks can rest a bit easier knowing they have a veteran point guard who can take over the reins if needed.

Until then, Payne will have a sizable role on this team, and if he keeps playing the way he does, might have Coach Thibodeau mulling over his workload down the stretch of the season.