The New York Knicks are at a crossroads — a team that entered the season as a championship contender and one of the favorites to win an injury-plagued Eastern Conference is now the loser of nine of its last 13 games.
Their slump, punctuated by a 17-point loss to the Dallas Mavericks in Madison Square Garden, has Knicks fans and pundits once again scrambling to find the reason why this Knicks team is not living up to the high expectations.
Some are blaming first-year Knicks head coach, Mike Brown, whose offensive system was supposed to unlock the Knicks but has led to more confusion over roles than production.
Others are blaming star forward Karl Anthony-Towns, whose inconsistent play and occasional soft demeanor have garnered criticism from fans and former players.
Currently, the Knicks are No. 4 in the Eastern Conference standings and are just as close to the play-in positions as they are to the top of the pile. The recent stretch of losses has led to fans crying out for a roster shake-up with the trade deadline approaching and stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis potentially on the move.
But Knicks fans’ dreams of trading Towns to bring another star to New York City won’t fix their problems — in fact, the Knicks’ thirst for the glitz and glamor is what got them into this situation in the first place.
The Knicks’ emergence as a playoff contender wasn’t built on star power, but instead on toughness and grit. The breakout year of forward Julius Randle and a collection of hard-nosed role players is what led the Knicks to their first playoff appearance in eight years in 2021.
The shrewd signing of Jalen Brunson in free agency and Brunson’s ascension into superstardom the following seasons is what launched the Knicks from an underdog story to consistent contenders.
The team’s two stars were surrounded by players like Mitchell Robinson, Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart — players committed to defense, toughness and making the hustle plays that made the Knicks a team no one wanted to play against and one that New York City loved.
The Knicks’ rebirth was only stopped by their inability to finish the job in the playoffs, leading the front office to trade some of the hustle and grit in the team for the elite talent needed to propel the Knicks to championship glory.
RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, two players drafted by the Knicks and staples of the young core, were traded to Toronto for forward OG Anunoby. Then, the Knicks sent five first-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets in a blockbuster trade to reunite Brunson with his college teammate Mikal Bridges. Most notably, the Knicks traded Julius Randle – the first piece of the Knicks’ reincarnation –and Donte DiVincenzo for an All-Star center in Karl-Anthony Towns.
The moves were meant to elevate the Knicks to a true championship threat, turning a team known for its rugged playstyle and toughness into a sleek offensive machine with the talent that could match up with any team in the league.
But 18 months later, what prevents the Knicks from reaching the highest level of success is exactly what they thought was expendable.
The team has struggled defensively — with its two stars, Brunson and Towns, being the primary weakness.
The solutions to the Knicks’ problems are simple: return to the style of play and mentality that made the Knicks franchise successful in the past.
The New York Knicks have been marketed as a team built for stars, where talented athletes come to become larger-than-life stars at “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”
But, in the near 100-year history of the franchise, the Knicks’ success isn’t marked by superstars and flash but instead by toughness and grit that relates more to the fans that sit in the nosebleeds rather than the celebrities that sit courtside.
The franchise’s greatest moment is Willis Reed playing on a torn thigh in Game 7 of the 1971 NBA Finals — a display of toughness and character that earned Willis Finals MVP despite only scoring four points — and leading the Knicks to their first NBA title.
Over 50 years later, the Knicks franchise hasn’t been able to repeat the success of the ‘70s. Supposed franchise saviors from Patrick Ewing to Carmelo Anthony have come and gone, often not living up to expectations and leaving the franchise constantly in search of the next big thing to put them over the top.
This current Knicks team has the talent necessary to win an NBA title, but for this year’s team to right the ship and end the franchise’s 52-year championship drought, it needs to combine its elite talent with the scrappy and tough identity that earned the Knicks success in both the distant and recent past.
If they don’t, New Yorkers will look back on this team and think, “What could have been?”