The “Nova Knicks” got stronger this offseason with the Knicks’ trade for Mikal Bridges.
The Knicks’ rotation now features four college teammates: Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo and Bridges, who played together at Villanova and won two national championships together.
The “Nova Knicks” have legitimately helped reshape the Knicks organization with their winning attitude and toughness. And their personal relationships and constant banter have also endeared them to NBA fans.
However, it is worth asking whether there could be also Much attention has been paid to the reunion of college friends. NBA locker rooms are delicate ecosystems and the “Nova Knicks” have grabbed plenty of headlines.
At Mikal Bridges’ introductory press conference on Tuesday, he was asked multiple questions about reuniting with his college teammates, his reaction to the trade, their reaction to the trade, the success of his former college teammates last season and more.
It would be understandable if non-Villanova Knicks teammates felt left out or grew tired of the attention paid to former Wildcats.
However, Fred Katz of The Athletic, who covers the Knicks, addressed the potential issues in His podcast “Katz and Shoot” and said he believes Brunson’s leadership could prevent it from becoming a problem.
“I think Brunson has a very egalitarian leadership style,” Katz said. “I don’t think he’s a person who identifies with cliques, and I think if he realized he was behaving like a clique, he would put an end to that tendency. That’s not how he tends to behave.”
Brunson already gave an example of this trait at a press conference during last year’s playoffs. While sitting next to Hart and DiVincenzo, Brunson answered a question on the three teammates’ chemistry saying it goes beyond the Villanova connection.
“I think from the outside, people think we just like hanging out with each other and no one else,” Brunson said. “I think we really enjoy ourselves and get everyone on this team involved. So the chemistry and communication we have in the locker room and on and off the court is special.”
Newsday’s Steve Popper, who was a guest on Katz’s podcast, also said that the Nova Knicks have not been a “clique” so far.
“Some people have asked me before, ‘Is this a clique?’ And it’s really not,” Popper said. “Hart is so crazy that he drags everyone into this by making fun of everyone in the locker room.”
In fact, the ability to laugh at each other helped last year’s Knicks. During a postgame interview, Brunson said that all the Knicks “hate each other in a low-key way.”
“We secretly hate each other, but we love each other,” Brunson said. “We’re always joking around. We always find something to make fun of each other. And so, somehow, it creates great team chemistry.”
The team even bonded over farts before the game.
Popper also talked about a benefit of having four college teammates playing together, one that goes beyond their understanding of how to play together: Their friendship off the court makes the sacrifice easier. In fact, Bridges, Hart, DiVincenzo and OG Anunoby will take minutes away from each other as the team’s primary forwards.
“They’re all in this together, pulling in the same direction, and that’s where I think friendship and camaraderie come into play.”
There is another possible solution: winning. It’s a cliché in sports, but winning cures all. Maybe the Villanova connection might irritate some teammates, but the Knicks seem to be winning a lot of games this season, and the “Nova Knicks” seem to play a big part in that.
