The New York Knicks are taking advantage of being one of five teams that have begun training camp. While most teams will open camp tomorrow, the Knicks are entering their fifth day together on Sunday. Despite coming off their most successful season in over a decade, the Knicks have spent a significant amount of time together learning a new offensive system and a different style from the plodder Tom Thibodeau’s offense.
Despite his unceremonious departure, Thibodeau was highly successful and re-established the Knicks as an Eastern Conference contender. Thibodeau is one of the franchise’s most successful coaches. Thibodeau ranks fourth in franchise history in wins as he posted a 226-174 record in six seasons, and his .565 winning percentage is sixth best. After a seven-year playoff drought, Thibs led the Knicks to the playoffs in his first season and directed them to at least the conference semis in each of the last three seasons. His 24 postseason victories are the fifth most on the Knicks’ ledger.
Knicks Embracing New Offensive Philosophy As They Prepare To Head Overseas
New head coach Mike Brown, known for his defensive expertise, was selected to take over for Thibodeau due to his ability to utilize his bench more effectively. Brown has evolved as an offensive coach and now loves to have his team push the pace. Besides getting the Knicks to play faster, according to Kristian Winfield of The New York Daily News, Brown is stressing constant motion and getting into the paint while looking to kick the ball out to shooters located beyond the arc.
“I tell you what, the team is probably a little bit ahead on both sides of the ball than what I expected we’d be at this point,” Brown said Friday after practice at the team’s Tarrytown facility. “They’ve been working hard. They’ve been trying to pick up stuff on both ends of the floor as quickly as possible.”
“Their attentiveness has been great,” Brown continued. “Today was the first time that we really had a chance to bump heads and scrimmage. So, when you go against a different-colored jersey instead of just going through it 5-on-0 or against the coaches, it’s a little different. But our guys did a good job. It’ll be even more different when we go against Philly in Abu Dhabi. I like our progress so far — but we’ve still got a long way to go.”
New York is likely en route to Abu Dhabi today. New York will face Philadelphia in two exhibition games on Thursday and Saturday. The Knicks will have three more preseason contests once they return from overseas. They will host Minnesota (Oct. 9), Washington (Oct. 13), and Charlotte (Oct. 17).
New Offensive Philosophy
This up-tempo play is a vast difference from Thibodeau’s slower pace and should benefit the Knicks. Jalen Brunson has developed into one of the top clutch players and efficient 3-point shooters in the game today, with a specialty of pull-up treys in transition. While Karl-Anthony Towns is an elite floor-spacing five-man and OG Anunoby is a corner three assassin, knocking down over 41% of his attempts from there. Mikal Bridges is a catch-and-shoot phenom who loves to shoot from the corner.
Overall, the Knicks were a top-10 3-point shooting team in terms of both accuracy and volume last year. The Knicks had seven players making at least one trey in the previous season. And the Knicks added Jordan Clarkson, Malcolm Brogdon, and Guerschon Yabulese. Clarkson has become a high-volume long-range bomber, who knocked down nearly 2.5 threes a game with Utah. Brogdon, who has dealt with injuries throughout his career, is a career 38.8% long-range shooter. Meanwhile, Yabulese has become a more offensive threat recently, and he is coming off a career-best 1.5 triples at a 38% clip.
Speaking of Brown’s new philosophy, Brunson came into camp a little lighter. Brunson has been one of the top guards in the league, but his scoring production dropped last year. He averaged a career-high 7.3 assists.
“It was important for me to be a little lighter just throughout the course of the”season,” Brunson told Zach Brazilier of the New York Post on Friday. “Not even being lighter, I’m not that much lighter, definitely more toned, and like that’s but it’s just important for me to get my body in the best shape possible, I can, and go from there.”
MRobinson’sbinson’s Role
Brunson, Bridges, Towns, and Anunoby are entrenched in the Knicks’ starting lineup. However, according to Winfieldhasn’tn hasn’t decided who will be the other starter, though it will likely be Josh Hart or Mitchell Robinson. The Knicks went 31-17 with Hart paired with the quartet with a +2.9 point differential (per 100 possessions).
Hart is a versatile player who has been in and out of the starting lineup throughout his career. Hart started all 77 of his appearances for the Knicks last year, but he has come off the bench almost as often during his two-plus seasons with the franchise. He has been a little more productive as a starter.
Robinson has battled injuries throughout his career. Robinson only appeared in 17 games this past season and has failed to play in four of the last five years. The 27-year-old center is known for his energy, rebounding, and shot-blocking ability. He has been slightly better coming off the bench than starting over his career.
There remain questions about whether Robinson can stay healthy for the entire season. And the 7-footer recently said he was unsure when he would be able to play back-to-backs.
When Will A Decision Come?
So, when will Brown make a decision?
“Ideally, it would be great if everybody’s role was defined before the first game,” Brown told Winfield. “Now, they can change throughout the course of the season, but hopefully going into Game 1, we as coaches — and Billy Lange — get to a point where everybody’s role is defined. And not only that, but they also clearly communicate it so that everybody knows exactly what they need. “We’ve.
“We’ve got a lot of ground to cover. We’re a new staff. So if we get a little behind, it doesn’t happen until after the first or second, I don’t know. But I’d like, I’d like to have all that done before”Game 1.”
Other Training Camp Battles
Besides Hart vs. Robinson, the Knicks have other important training camp battles going on. The most interesting, arguably, is who will fill the Knicks’ final veteran slot?
New York still only has 12 players on standard contracts. Still, given their closeness to being hard-capped at the second apron, they can only add one veteran’s minimum contract without making a trade. The Knicks brought in five experienced players to compete for the final spot. Brogdon is considered the favorite, as the Knicks seek a true backup point guard for the team. However, Landry Shamet also has a chance of securing a spot. All five veteran players are on Exhibit 10 deals, meaning they could end up with Westchester and could at least get 10-day deals with the team down the line.
“A competitive I’mrit. I’m big on that. … For us, every day is about comp”tition,” Brown told Winfield re”ently. “you’rer you’re a cyou’rer you’re a player, we want to compete. We want to grow as a unit in that, and it’s no different for each individual. You’re here on a guaranteed basis, competing your butt off. And at the end of the day, we have a lot of time to do what’s gonna “appen.
“But at the end of the day, we’ll figure out who we need to fit and who needs to fit. There’s no one ahead of anyone right now. Everybody’s coming in trying to compete for a spot. All the guys we have we feel are competitwe’llso we’ll see at the end of the day who rises to “he top.”
Malcolm Brogdon vs. Miles McBride
Not only is Brogdon competing for the Knicks’ final roster spot, but he is also competing with Miles McBride to sBrunson’srunson’s primary backup. Clarkson is slated to be the Knicks’ sixth man, though he is at his best off the ball.
McBride, who has developed into a reliable 3-point shooter over the last two seasons, produced a career year in 2024-25. While the 25-year-old isn’t the offensive phen, as a scorer or facilitator, like Brogdon, he does bring electricity and some on-ball defense.
There has been some discussion about the Knicks trading McBride, who is earning $4.3 million this season, to create a spot for both Brogdon and Landry to make the squad. It would be a kind of surprise if McBride isn’t on the team to start the season, but either way, expect Brogdon to win the backup role as long as he is healthy.
Tyler Kolek and Pacome Diadet also remain trade candidates.
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