Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson look to lead the New York Knicks to the championship round after falling short in the Eastern Conference Finals. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
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2024-25 Record: 51-31(3rd in East, lost in Conference Finals)
The Knicks entered the 2024–25 season with legitimate championship aspirations after a busy offseason that saw them bolster their roster through blockbuster deals. With Tom Thibodeau at the helm and a deep, defensive-minded squad, New York surged through the regular season, securing a top-three seed in the Eastern Conference. However, their playoff run ultimately ended in heartbreak, as they ran out of steam in the conference finals against the Indiana Pacers.
Jalen Brunson further established his superstar credentials, averaging 26.0 points and 7.3 assists per game while earning Kia Clutch Player of the Year honors. Karl-Anthony Towns adjusted quickly to life in New York after his trade from the Timberwolves, fitting in seamlessly as a versatile scoring big and earning a fifth All-Star selection. OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart formed a ferocious perimeter trio, locking down opposing wings and bringing toughness on both ends of the floor. With a core locked in for the foreseeable future, the franchise appears well-positioned to remain in the title conversation.
Offseason
- Re-signings: Mikal Bridges (extension), Ariel Hukporti (team option exercised)
- Additions: Jordan Clarkson (free agent), Guerschon Yabusele (free agent)
- Draft: Mohamed Diawara (51st pick, acquired via trade)
- Departures: N/A
- Unsigned Free Agents: Precious Achiuwa, Cameron Payne, P.J. Tucker, Delon Wright
The Knicks parted ways with Thibodeau, who led the team to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, ushering in a new era under Mike Brown’s leadership while returning most of the core roster.
On the announcement of Brown’s hiring, Knicks President Leon Rose lauded his extensive experience: “Mike has coached on the biggest stages in our sport and brings championship pedigree to our organization.”
While it remains to be seen whether Brown can elevate the Knicks to championship contention, the team added depth to its roster by signing Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele while also agreeing to training camp deals with Malcolm Brogdon and Landry Shamet to compete for a roster spot. Clarkson, who has led the NBA in points off the bench (4,589) since 2020, adds scoring depth. Yabusele, a versatile frontcourt presence, spent last season with the Philadelphia 76ers, averaging 11.0 points on 50.1% shooting.
Jalen Brunson emerged as one of the NBA’s best players in crunch time, winning the 2024-25 Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year Award after averaging an NBA-high 5.6 points in clutch situations.
X-factor
Mikal Bridges. All eyes were on him during his debut season in New York, after the Knicks gave up five first-round picks to acquire Bridges from the Nets. While his regular season had its ups and downs, Bridges delivered in the 2025 Playoffs — especially in the second-round series against the Celtics. He came up clutch with multiple game-sealing defensive plays, including a key steal from Jaylen Brown in Game 1 and another from Jayson Tatum late in Game 2, helping the Knicks take a crucial 2-0 series lead on the road.
In August, Bridges signed a four-year extension that includes a player option for the 2029-30 season. He’ll now look to build on that playoff momentum.
> Watch Mikal Bridges on NBA League Pass
One key question
Do the Knicks have enough depth? The two teams that reached the 2025 NBA Finals — the Thunder and Pacers — were both fueled by strong, reliable bench units. Oklahoma City leaned on the defensive grit and versatility of Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace, while Indiana consistently got scoring and playmaking from Bennedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard, Obi Toppin, and T.J. McConnell. By contrast, the Knicks’ rotation began to wear down late in the postseason. While Miles McBride and Mitchell Robinson provided energy and key moments off the bench during the playoff run, the overall lack of consistent second-unit production was a glaring issue, especially in the Eastern Conference Finals.
This offseason, the Knicks made moves to improve their depth by signing Clarkson and Yabusele, hoping each can provide scoring punch and veteran stability. But questions remain: Can they get meaningful development from recent draft picks like Pacôme Dadiet and Tyler Kolek, or will they need to rely more heavily on seasoned vets to round out the rotation?
Fantasy Outlook from RotoWire
The team at RotoWire broke down the top fantasy options for each team in the East. Here’s how they broke down some of the best options from the Knicks:
“The Knicks could hardly ask for more than they got from the starters last season, especially Jalen Brunson, who averaged team highs of 26.0 points and 7.3 assists per game during the regular season, on his way to also winning the Kia Clutch Player of the Year award. Karl-Anthony Towns was the squad’s second-leading scorer with 24.4 points to go with a team-high 12.8 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges provide excellent supporting play at the wing, impacting the game defensively and knocking down big shots. The Knicks should remain one of the most fearsome teams in the East through 2025-26, as the loaded group is heading into their second full season together and should only benefit from the continuity.”
Key dates
- NBA Global Games (Abu Dhabi): Oct. 2 vs. 76ers (12 PM ET, League Pass), Oct. 4 vs. 76ers (11 AM ET, League Pass)
- Regular Season/ Home Opener: Oct. 22 vs. Cavaliers (7 ET, ESPN)
- Emirates NBA Cup East Group C Play: Oct. 31 at Bulls (8 ET, League Pass), Nov. 14 vs. Heat (7 ET, Prime), Nov. 26 at Hornets (7 ET, League Pass), Nov. 28 vs. Bucks (7:30 ET, Prime)
- NBA Christmas Day: Dec. 25 vs. Cavaliers (12 PM ET, ABC & ESPN)
- MLK Day: Jan. 19 vs. Mavericks (5 ET, NBC & Peacock)
- Rivals Week: Jan. 24 at 76ers (3 ET, ABC)
What they’re saying
James L. Edwards III, The Athletic: “Given that the Knicks were one of the most financially tight teams in the NBA this offseason, adding two legitimate role players in Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele is nothing to sneeze at. New York needed depth this summer, and it got it in the form of a bench scorer and a utility forward. Neither signing was splashy, but, on paper, it should bolster a team that made the Eastern Conference Finals and struggled to get consistency from its bench.“ (Read More)
