Bradley's absence has overlapped with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's four starts but the 11th overall pick in June's draft had earned a promotion from the bench regardless of Bradley's health, Rivers has said.
Although he handled no landmark cases and came across as a nervous and somewhat indifferent speaker before the bench, he earned a reputation as a formidable legal scholar.
But Judge Rakoff, who in his two decades on the bench has earned a reputation as iconoclastic, bucked that longstanding practice.
For his efforts, it appears Brown has earned a spot back on the bench, with the underwhelming Bradshaw expected to start.
As a freshman for the 2012 13 team, he nearly redshirted but earned a key role off the bench as the team went on to reach the championship game in the 2013 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.
Wednesday's decision is a rebuke to Rakoff, who in two decades on the bench has earned a reputation as a brilliant, iconoclastic judge and whose voiding of the Citigroup accord in November of 2011 prompted other judges to scrutinize similar settlements.
He spent several seasons in the Yankees organization as a pitcher, then red-shirted at Oklahoma State, spent two seasons on the bench, then finally earned a starting job for the Oklahoma State Cowboys at an age when most successful N.F.L. quarterbacks are settling in to starting jobs with teams like the Dallas Cowboys.
It seems more than likely that one spot will go to the other bench standout who earned a larger role through his unexpectedly impressive play last season, Torrey Craig.
On the bench, he has earned a stellar reputation as a moderate judge who applied the law, not his personal preferences, to decide cases.
Trotz, 51, has earned a reputation as a demanding, no-nonsense bench boss who is also well-liked and respected by players.
