The New York Knicks have assembled a talented and talented team and have ambitions to contend for a championship.
After winning 50 games last year and coming within one game of the Eastern Conference Finals despite numerous injuries, the Knicks return much of last year’s roster, as well as the addition of Mikal Bridges.
Of course, if the Knicks hope to improve on last year’s performance, they’ll need exceptional performances from all sides of the team. It’s not news that some players have weighed more heavily than others in the Knicks’ performance this season.
We’ve ranked the eight most important Knicks below.
8. Miles McBride, G
McBride’s shift to a high-volume, 41 percent three-point shooter was one of the more surprising developments last season. The 24-year-old backup also showed improvement in ball handling and shot creation, in addition to his usual solid on-ball defense, to become a key piece for the Knicks.
This year will be a test of whether McBride had a few breakout months as a shooter or if he is legitimately one of the best bench leaders in the NBA. The Knicks bench would be in a worse situation if he fails to replicate last year’s performance.
7. Josh Hart, F
It may seem surprising to rank so low a player who was so essential to last season’s success. Indeed, Hart became — no pun intended — the heart of the Knicks’ team last year thanks to his relentless efforts on the rebound, defense and in transition.
But part of it was circumstance: Hart was thrust into a big role and embraced it, almost never coming off the court. If the Knicks are healthy this year, Hart will play a smaller role as a backup. He’s their third-best fullback and an up-and-down shooter, which means his contributions (rebounding, intensity, randomness) will be more of a luxury to play as a backup, as opposed to someone who has stay on the field for all 48 minutes of a playoff game.
6. Donte DiVincenzo, G
After playing a vital role on last year’s team with his shooting, improved dribbling, and feisty defense, DiVincenzo is primed for a backup role that should put him in contention for Sixth Man of the Year honors. While DiVincenzo doesn’t appear likely to regress, his three-point shooting will still be worth monitoring this year. DiVincenzo has had his ups and downs in his career, with three seasons where he shot below 35 percent and now 40 percent in his last two seasons (though he credits his 2022-23 season with the Warriors with making him a better shooter).
If DiVincenzo stays hot from three-point range and brings that competitive energy off the bench this year, then Tom Thibodeau will have a hard time keeping him off the court.
5. Julius Randle, F/C(?)
Randle’s return to the court is one of the biggest stories for the Knicks this year. What will it look like? How will he fit in? Will it be a down year for Randle (see: 2021-22) or will he look like an All-Star again, helping recreate the January version of the Knicks that went 12-2 and crushed their opponents?
But given his status, Randle’s play might be slightly less crucial to this team’s success. The Knicks weren’t nearly as good without Randle as they were with him, but they were still good — they won one playoff series and almost two. The Knicks have the depth and talent to withstand another Randle injury.
Randle still has the ability to elevate this team to another level with his scoring, passing and size. If the Randle of last January shows up — the one who made quicker decisions, cut harder, ran faster and defended harder — the Knicks will be all the better for it.
One of the biggest changes this season for the Knicks is how often center Randle plays and how he performs when he gets the chance.
4. Mitchell Robinson, C
Robinson might be the Knicks’ biggest X-factor this season. They’re short on center, and he’s by far their best and most experienced big man. There’s no one on the roster who can replicate Robinson’s impact.
It’s easy to forget, amid all of Robinson’s injuries, how he started last season as an All-Defensive candidate. Robinson was eating up the paint, contesting shots and dominating the glass. The Knicks need that Robinson. If he can add even an ounce of passing and ball-handling to his game – it’s not totally out of the question, because Robinson publicly lamented his limited offensive role — he could mitigate the impact of Isaiah Hartenstein’s departure.
3. OG Anunoby, F
Anunoby is the key to much of what the Knicks want to do. He’s their most versatile defender, capable of defending 1-through-5s. He can play power forward if Randle gets hurt. His size and strength are keys to small-ball lineups with Randle at center. And offensively, he’s a reliable three-point shooter who can also hit drives and mid-range shots, as he showed in the playoffs.
Last season, the Knicks were 26-5 when Anunoby was on the court. There’s no one else on the roster with his combination of size, defense and shooting.
2. Mikal Bridges, G/F
Given the amount of trades the Knicks made to get him, there’s quietly a lot of pressure on Bridges this year.
Bridges may not be an All-Star, but he’s a perfect blend of what the Knicks needed: more shooting, more shot creation, more perimeter defense. Bridges should emerge this season as the Knicks’ second-best shot creator and best perimeter defender against dynamic guards (a role he’s slightly better suited for than Anunoby). The fact that he can also space the floor and be effective off the ball on offense is what made him such a desirable trade target.
Bridges struggled last season as Brooklyn’s No. 1 option, which he admitted. He’ll be able to shed some of that burden this year and play more as a No. 2 or No. 3 option, a role he should thrive in. If for some reason he struggles, the backlash will be powerful and the Knicks will be less dynamic.
1. Jalen Brunson, G
It all comes down to Brunson. He is the only elite player on this team. He is not only the Knicks’ leading scorer and ball-handler, he is arguably one of the top 10 offensive players in the entire NBA. He carried the team last year, and without that ascension to MVP candidate, the Knicks would not be considered a potential contender this year.
The team is better prepared this season to withstand a short-term injury to Brunson. If all other players are healthy, the Knicks could get a $0.500 monthly salary if Brunson were injured.
But in the grand scheme of things, the Knicks aren’t going anywhere — this season or in the future — if Brunson doesn’t play like a superstar.
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