Jalen Brunson didn’t leave much room for doubt when asked about the mindset required to keep a championship team sharp.
After the New York Knicks picked up their second win in as many days, ESPN’s Vince Goodwill brought up Jayson Tatum’s recent comment that title teams have to find ways to trick themselves into staying hungry. He asked Brunson whether he understood what the Boston Celtics star meant, and whether he or the Knicks had started using that kind of mental approach.
Brunson’s response came back with his usual edge.
"You said we have to trick ourselves to be motivated? What did I say at the end of the last- my presser, last time.
Do you remember? Were you here for that? ...
Yeah, don't praise us anymore. So, there's the trick.
Trickery, right?"
That answer says plenty about where the Knicks are right now. Even with the rest of the Eastern Conference making moves this offseason, and even with questions lingering about whether New York’s self-imposed spending limit at the salary cap’s second apron could leave the roster thin in the center, this group has already shown the kind of mindset that keeps bigger concerns from taking over.
And after Wednesday night, they’re two wins into reinforcing that point again.
The fear around this Knicks core hasn’t really been about effort or attitude. Last season’s rough 2-9 stretch sent fans scrambling to the trade machine and wondering whether the franchise had asked too much too soon from Mike Brown, who had just been hired. That followed the season before, when the team hit its best finish in 25 years under Tom Thibodeau, so the natural question was whether Leon Rose and James Dolan had gotten ahead of themselves.
The answer, at least from the way Brown handled his first year, was no.
Brown started laying the groundwork early, leaning into the fact that he was the new voice in the room and making a point to build relationships with his roster at Summer League and across the 2025 NBA offseason. By early December, the Knicks were still clearing out old habits and dealing with the usual growing pains that come with a new era. Even then, the signs of a championship-caliber group were starting to show.
That showed up most clearly when New York won the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup Championship in Las Vegas. The title game ended up serving as a preview of the 2026 NBA Finals, and it was the first time Brown’s Knicks pulled together strongly enough to survive every round of an NBA tournament.
Once they settled back into the basics, and understood the cost of acting like those basics didn’t matter, they got to exactly the right place by the postseason.
The players may not be spending much time worrying about the NBA’s In-Season Tournament anymore, not after wearing NBA Championship rings around their fingers. But Brunson’s words made the larger point clear anyway: the captain already has his eyes on May and June.
In Other News...
Knicks Could Catch A Huge Break Against The 76ers
The Knicks may get a little help from the injury report before they even step on the floor Friday night. Philadelphia wing Jaylen Brown has been listed as questionable with left knee soreness, a development that could matter in a matchup between two teams already measuring every edge they can find. The game is set for 7:30 p.m. EST, and any absence from Brown would be his first of the season.
For New York, the timing adds another layer to a meeting that already carries a bit of weight. A player sitting out because of soreness is hardly a guarantee, but it is the kind of late-breaking wrinkle that can reshape how a game is approached on both sides. The Knicks will be watching closely as the status report develops, knowing a break like this can change the tone of an opponents rotation in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Sent A Clear Rotation Message In Stunning Comeback Win
The comeback in Chicago did more than improve the Knicks record, it offered a quick look at how Mike Brown is willing to manage his new rotation. New York erased a 19-point hole and beat the Bulls 133-127, but the most eye-catching part of the win was Brown cutting into Mikal Bridges minutes while leaning on a bench group that brought energy, playmaking and shot-making when the game was slipping away.
Tyler Kolek, Jordan Clarkson and Landry Shamet combined for 41 points and 15 assists, a reminder that Brown is not afraid to search deeper into the roster when the situation calls for it. Jalen Brunson carried the offense with 38 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns added 19 points and 13 rebounds despite a brief injury scare, but the bigger question now is whether this kind of rotation flexibility is a one-night answer or a sign of how Brown sees the Knicks moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Young Core Showed Real Progress In A Brutal Finish
The Bulls gave the Knicks a real test at the United Center, hanging around for much of a game that had the feel of an early-season measuring stick between two teams trying to sort out who they are. Chicagos young core brought energy and urgency, but the difference in the end came down to the Knicks looking steadier when the pressure rose, especially after a contest that stayed competitive deep into the fourth quarter.
Jalen Brunson did much of the finishing for New York, scoring 14 points in the final quarter and drilling three 3-pointers to help close the door on a 133-127 win. The Bulls had chances, but turnovers and inconsistent shooting kept them from fully cashing in on their effort, while the Knicks leaned on experience and timely shot-making to leave with a hard-earned victory. [Read more 🡒]