By Angel Rivera 
The New York Knicks are without a doubt heavy Eastern Conference Finals favorites as we
approach a quarter of the way through the season. Currently sitting at #4 in the East, they have
so far lived up to expectations. The reason? Bodega Kat and Brunson Burner—yes, I’m talking
about Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson. These two are arguably the 1a and 1b of this
team. Not to mention the rest of the dogs in their lineup—New York, you are finally a serious
threat again.
For the vast majority of the 2010s, the Knicks were underwhelming. Although future Hall of
Famer and one of my favorite players, Carmelo Anthony, made Madison Square Garden
relevant after the Patrick Ewing era, they never found playoff success. From 2013 to 2020, the
Knicks failed to make the playoffs. Yet, year after year, there was so much hype about landing a
bona fide star to improve the roster (Kevin Durant literally signed with Brooklyn instead).
That all changed in 2022 when they signed a star on the rise: none other than Jalen Brunson, to
a four-year, $104 million deal. Brunson, who is arguably a top-five point guard in the league
today, changed the landscape of New York basketball. A savvy guard who can score at will in a
variety of ways, he uses his decision-making to get to his spots and find open teammates. The
leap Brunson took from Dallas to New York was monumental and is the main reason the Knicks
have life again.
Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart are all critical pieces
of this puzzle, which has yet to be solved to win a ring. If there’s ever been a time for Knicks
fans to have hope, it’s right now!
How this team came together in just two years is simple: leveraging their big-market appeal.
Something my team, the Miami Heat, has failed to do—but that’s a conversation for another day.
The blockbuster trade this past offseason, which shocked me, was acquiring KAT in a deal
involving Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. So far, the trade has worked in favor of the
Knicks. For instance, their offense has immediately improved and is currently top five in the
league. Towns’ ability to spread the floor and serve as a dangerous scoring option has
maximized their offensive potential.
On the defensive side, things can improve. As the season progresses, time will tell how they
adjust their defensive schemes, particularly in the paint, which has been a weak spot. The
absence of big men—since they lost Isaiah Hartenstein in the offseason and Mitchell Robinson
is still recovering from injury—doesn’t help. I wouldn’t be surprised if they pursued a center on a
team-friendly deal (Jonas Valanciunas, perhaps?).
As much as there’s upside with this team, doubts remain. Will Tom Thibodeau manage rotations
effectively? How will they win games when shots aren’t falling? These are valid questions. A
recent loss in the NBA Cup to the Atlanta Hawks highlighted their issues, as the Knicks went
cold in the second half, losing 108-100. It’s still early in the season, so there’s no need for heavy
concern just yet. However, if they want to hold themselves to a standard similar to the Boston
Celtics, they can’t afford much room for error.
That said, I believe they’re still a top-two favorite to come out of the East, regardless of the
standings, purely because of their loaded lineup. Having Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby for a
full season will benefit Brunson, as they can relieve some of the scoring pressure. Plus, they are
the team’s two best perimeter defenders—an area where the Knicks struggled last year. OG
joined during the second half of the season and was injured for part of the playoffs. Now that
he’s healthy, he can be a disruptive force. Mikal, meanwhile, has found his rhythm and can
defend positions 1-4 at a high level.
Josh Hart is literally the “heart” of the team, known for his hustle and ability to give the Knicks
extra possessions. His role is invaluable, especially given the lack of size on the roster, which I
mentioned earlier. The depth coming off the bench depends on who’s healthy and who steps up
when needed.
As for their championship chances? They’re more probable than in recent years. I’d love to see
them face my Miami Heat in the playoffs for another exciting series like the one we had in 2023.
There’s still plenty of time for improvement, and anything can happen before April. The Eastern
Conference isn’t a powerhouse, but there are some under-the-radar threats. It won’t be as easy
as casual fans might think. It’ll be interesting to see how this season unfolds in the “East side.”
Joel Perez