Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: the New York Knicks are winning the championship next year.
All jokes aside, 2026 really could be the Knicks’ year. Controlling what they can control, they’ve assembled a formidable first unit with a defensive edge. When they look around the league, they probably can’t help but notice the title-contenders that recently lost a star to an Achilles tear. Three of those teams (the Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks) play in the East, which could give them an easier path to the NBA Finals.
That being said, the burning question for the Knicks isn’t whether they’ll be lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy next June.
3 Burning Questions For Knicks Heading Into 2025-26 Season
Will Mike Brown Make A Difference?
If anyone can step into former Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau’s shoes, it might be the person that was picked as his successor: Mike Brown.
Like Thibodeau, Brown is a two-time Coach of the Year. They’re both in an exclusive club of 48 head coaches that have amassed over 450 wins in their career. Brown even has a winning record with each of the three franchises he’s coached for. For comparison, Thibodeau has a winning record with just two of the three teams he’s coached. On top of all of that, Brown is a defensive-minded head coach, like Thibodeau. He’s not quite as gruff as his predecessor but he’s just as intense.
If there’s a glaring difference between them it’s that Brown isn’t quite as averse to going away from his starters. With that being said, Brown’s willingness to utilize their depth could make all the difference for the Knicks. Though most of the criticism about Thibodeau’s use of his starters has been disguised by jokes, there’s reason to question whether the miles have a negative effect on them in the long run. Even Mikal Bridges, who New York traded half a dozen first-round picks for last offseason, had to air out his concerns.
Will Mikal Bridges Get Back On Track?
For the second consecutive season, Bridges was underwhelming.
With the Brooklyn Nets in 2023-24, he was unable to handle the rigors of being the No. 1 option. Fair enough. Everyone isn’t meant to be the top dog. What leaves a bitter taste is that even while playing for the Knicks in a scaled down role last season, he still didn’t play up to par.
With Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns leading the scoring effort, his averages didn’t matter as much as his efficiency. Yet, Bridges shot just 35.4 percent from 3, his lowest mark since his rookie season. After the All-Star Break, he was shooting just 33.9 percent from 3. Those issues continued in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, as Bridges shot a paltry 31.9 percent from 3.
Again, due to the Knicks pecking order, they weren’t exactly living and dying by Bridges. Still, he wasn’t able to capitalize enough on the attention the Brunson and others drew. He didn’t knock down enough timely jumpers. In games with slim margins of error, those errant shots are hard to ignore.
Given the tendency of players to regress towards the mean, Bridges could be in store for a strong shooting performance in 2025-26. To that point, he’s a career 37.1 percent shooter. However, it’s definitely possible that Bridges is in the midst of an extended shooting slump.
Is Jalen Brunson’s Seat Getting Warm?
Since arriving in New York, Brunson has put his stamp on the organization. No matter how the rest of his career turns out, he’ll be remembered as one of the Knicks most riveting players. With that being said, while he’s won over the franchise faithful, his future with the organization might not be secure.
Indeed, the writing may already be on the wall. Due to the connection that Brunson has with his father, Brown deciding to demote Rick Brunson could have a butterfly effect. Additionally, there are growing questions about the viability of small, offensive-minded guards leading teams to a title.
To be fair, Brunson shouldn’t be on the hot seat. Not so soon after he helped lead the Knicks to the Eastern Conference Finals. Yet, there’s no doubt that he’s a double-edged sword for New York. He leads the charge offensively, but he’s routinely targeted at the defensive end.
Ultimately, depending on how next season pans out, the Knicks may find themselves willing to listen to offers for the two-time All-Star. Keep in mind that he’ll turn 30 years old ahead of the 2026-27 season.
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