After 53 years largely defined by disappointments, doubts, and setbacks, the New York Knicks ended their title drought with one of the most impressive postseason runs in recent history.
With the 2026-2027 regular season less than a week away, Knicks head coach Mike Brown recently took a moment to make sure his team was on the same page, the sort of move that may help a unit that must enter a new journey with the right mindset.
“We have to hold each other accountable, but we also have to be mindful that you may have some s–t going on in your life that may not be good,” Knicks head coach Mike Brown said earlier this month. “So we can’t keep trying to beat you up to be better at your job. Sometimes, it’s trying to figure out how to do that while uplifting you because I don’t know what you’re going through at home in your private life.”
Fans and pundits will certainly have a myriad of questions regarding the group’s connectivity and overall ability to repeat. While the road towards finding out if they can accomplish such a feat, it would not be surprising to see these four developments come to life.
OG Anunoby will have an All-Star season
With his team in need of a play with mere seconds on the clock in Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals, OG Anunoby delivered a game-winning tip-in that will live on in NBA history. The moment cemented the 29-year-old as a household name and brought national attention to what many New York fans already knew to be true.
When healthy, Anunoby is one of the league’s premier two-way players. Over 67 contests, he averaged 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 steals while shooting around 48 percent from the field and around 39 percent from 3-point range.
It would not be shocking to see these numbers increase this season. Anunoby will benefit from another year in Brown’s system and could build on the offensive rapport he’s crafted with Karl-Anthony Towns.
According to Cleaning the Glass, Anunoby ranked in the 92nd percentile in terms of Points Per Shot Attempt last year. While he may be less efficient overall this season, it may be fair to expect a slight bump in points, rebounds, and assists that could result in his first All-Star nod.
The Knicks’ bench will shine at different points
One of the most celebrated aspects of last spring’s title run centered around how role players like Jose Alvarado, Landry Shamet, and Jordan Clarkson contributed key plays at different points.
With much of the same cast returning, there is no reason to doubt that they will receive chances to make an impact.
Unlike previous head coach Tom Thibodeau, Brown has shown a willingness to shuffle his rotations and let his bench play a decent amount of minutes throughout a long slate. Further, injuries and other setbacks figure to almost guarantee opportunities for players like Mohamed Diawara, Andre Drummond, and others to step up and help the Knicks steal a game they may have otherwise lost.
New York will not finish with the best record in the Eastern Conference
For much of last season, the discourse surrounding the Knicks primarily focused on whether or not they would be able to find the right chemistry to compete for a championship. At no point during the regular season did New York look like the East’s most dominant club. They ended the schedule with the No. 3 seed, but their talent indicated that they could have finished a touch higher.
Even if that were true, the season gave Brown and the team a chance to test different combinations and see what their ceiling could be. They will be competitive on a nightly basis, but it is hard to envision them being very concerned about what their record indicates ahead of the NBA Playoffs.
Other teams like the Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, and Orlando Magic may be more aggressive during the regular season and make it a point to finish with the highest seed possible to ensure a favorable matchup.
Article Continues BelowThe Knicks have proven they can win when it matters most. Because of this, do not be surprised if they use the regular season as a chance to see what this current iteration could offer.
Jalen Brunson will insert himself into the MVP conversation
Nothing has come easy for Jalen Brunson. Even after winning an NBA Finals, many experts still refuse to view the former second-round pick as a top-tier talent. No one has doubted his ability to contribute to a winning cause, but few have acknowledged that his efforts have catapulted him into the NBA’s upper echelon.
It is easy for some to write off Brunson because of his height and lack of traditional physical prowess, but he has shown the sort of leadership and grit that has made him a franchise icon as well as someone who should be viewed as one of the game’s elite performers.
Across 74 games last season, the New Jersey native averaged 26 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists while shooting almost 47 percent from the field. Brunson has scored more in past seasons and has also experienced better shooting campaigns.
The Knicks’ mission as a team is clear. But as they attempt to reach such heights, Brunson may be motivated to go into overdrive and ensure that his contingent wins as many games as possible.
Others like Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, and Nikola Jokic may receive more praise from pundits initially; it is difficult to imagine a scenario where the consistently doubted underdog does not once again insert himself into the MVP conversation. Even if Brunson does not ultimately take home the hardware, it would not be a shock to see him enjoy stretches that remind the masses exactly why the Knicks are contenders.