As time ticks away on the NBA offseason, the Knicks head into training camp with the most expectations the franchise has carried in decades.
But for the team to reach its goal of a championship or at least an NBA Finals appearance, players like Karl-Anthony Towns will have a lot to prove. Let’s look at the three Knicks facing the most questions heading into the new season…
Karl-Anthony Towns
Towns arguably had the best season of his career in 2024-25. He made the All-NBA third team after finishing second in rebounds (12.4) and 12th in points (24.4). And his individual play helped the Knicks succeed, as the team won 51 games during the regular season and advanced to the Conference Finals for the first time in a quarter of a century.
Towns’ skill set is unique. It’s hard to find big men with the ability to shoot efficiently from nearly every spot on the court. But even after 10 seasons in the NBA, Towns’ fit on a championship-level roster is murky.
When he is the last line of defense, teams mercilessly attack him. In a microcosm of the season, Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton incessantly put Towns in pick-and-rolls down the stretch of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals and scored or created a good look for his teammates every time.
Can Towns consistently fit as a power forward in jumbo lineups with rim-protecting center Mitchell Robinson? The Knicks' offense held up with both big men on the floor last season, but it’s not the best way to optimize Towns individually, as he can be stuck on the perimeter to preserve spacing.
This season is pivotal for both the Knicks and Towns. The five-time All-Star will turn 30 in November. With a new head coach in Mike Brown, this season will give the Knicks a better understanding of how or if they can build around Towns.
Mikal Bridges
After signing a four-year, $150 million extension in August, Bridges has a chance to bounce back from an uneven first season in New York.
Brown established a pass-first identity with the Kings, and there’s hope he can add some pace and ball movement to New York’s offense.
The largest beneficiary of a more equally distributed offense would be Bridges.
A former leading scorer with the Nets, Bridges has a chance to be a more dynamic perimeter weapon. When Jalen Brunson was sidelined for 15 games late last season, Bridges was more active, averaging 20.5 points and 4.9 assists.
As the Knicks potentially try to have Brunson play without the ball more, it could provide an opportunity for Bridges to be more assertive in the offense and less of a bystander.
This offseason, the Knicks have added guards capable of making plays off the dribble like Jordan Clarkson and Malcolm Brogdon. But New York's title hopes lie with Bridges. They need the wing to step up by being more aggressive.
Will Bridges be more efficient and willing to play through contact? That will define the season.
Mitchell Robinson
The X-factor of New York’s entire playoff run was Robinson. After missing all but 17 games during the regular season, the seven-footer was a nuisance for opponents in the postseason — leading all players in the league in offensive rebound rate.
The Knicks gave up 109.0 points per 100 possessions in Robinson’s 370 playoff minutes, per NBA Stats. In the minutes Robinson sat, New York conceded 113.3 points per 100 possessions.
Robinson could begin this season as a part of New York’s starting lineup. Either way, his impact as a rim protector and offensive rebounder is paramount to New York’s success.
Though it’s clear how impactful Robinson is on both ends of the floor, having him available to play has been difficult. He has missed 139 games in the last three seasons, mainly due to a left ankle injury that required surgery in 2024.
Robinson is in the final year of a four-year, $60 million contract. The Knicks can sign him to an extension now, but given his injury history, it makes sense to see if Robinson is capable of staying healthy throughout the course of an entire season before digging deep into the second apron.
Read the full article here