The Knicks have already climbed one mountain. Now comes the harder part: not staring back at the view.
After finally ending the franchise’s title drought with a championship last season, New York is trying to do something no team has pulled off in nine years - win back-to-back NBA titles. That chase has a way of exposing teams that get too comfortable living off what they just accomplished. Jalen Brunson knows it, and he’s making the point plain.
“When people say that, can we let that go through one ear and out the other?” the 30-year-old superstar point guard told the New York Post's Stefan Bondy when touching on the Knicks' conquest of the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
“Can we just focus on what we can do this year? Because last year was last year.
“It’s OK for people to talk to us about it, and say, ‘Oh that was great.’ But we’re moving on.
So it can not be in our mindset. It cannot be our focal point if we want to get better.
So I think that’s the question we need to ask. And if we can do that, we’re going to be in good shape to be able to be in a better mindset.
If not, then we’re going to be behind the eight ball.”
That message matters because the Knicks are trying to build something bigger than one banner. The franchise has already gone through a dramatic reset under Leon Rose and Tom Thibodeau, who arrived in 2020 and helped steer New York out of its old organizational mess. Then came the breakthrough: the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals upset of the Boston Celtics, followed by last season’s championship under Mike Brown after the roster was lengthened.
Now the challenge is repeating without getting trapped by the glow of the first one.
There are also basketball reasons for concern. New York was unable to re-sign Mitchell Robinson in free agency, which leaves real questions about frontcourt depth and toughness.
That’s not a small detail for a team trying to defend a title. Even so, if the Knicks can stay clear of distractions and avoid a brutal injury run, they still have the look of a team built for another strong season.
Brunson remains the center of everything. Through his first four seasons in New York, the NBA Finals MVP has averaged 26.3 points and 6.8 assists while shooting 48.0 percent from the field and 39.0 percent from 3-point range. He’s already written his name into franchise history.
The next chapter depends on whether the Knicks can follow his advice and treat last year like last year. If they do, they have a chance to turn a magical run into something even more lasting.
In Other News...
Knicks Still Have One Roster Hole That Could Cost Them Big
Andre Drummond gives the Knicks a workable answer behind Karl-Anthony Towns for now, but the bigger question is what happens after the backup center spot. With Mitchell Robinson gone, New York has addressed one part of the frontcourt picture on a minimum deal, yet the roster still looks thin enough at the five to make depth a real concern as the season wears on.
That matters because Towns just came through a demanding postseason, and the Knicks cannot really afford to lean on him too heavily in the wrong stretches. The team has explored younger options to fill out the position, but if those moves do not come together, the front office may have to keep searching for a more established answer before this gap turns into a problem. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Face One Early Reality As Next Title Push Takes Shape
Jalen Brunson turned 30 and, in a conversation with Stefan Bondy, took stock of where his career and the Knicks stand as the franchise tries to build on its recent title run. The point guard also touched on the wrist surgery he had in July and his mindset heading into the season, while the departure of Mitchell Robinson to the Celtics added another reminder that the roster around him is still in flux.
For the Knicks, the bigger picture now goes beyond one birthday or one interview. There are already early questions about how the front office handles its next wave of decisions, from potential contract talks with Karl-Anthony Towns to the kind of flexibility that can disappear quickly if the wrong pieces have to be moved. Miles McBride is part of that conversation too, and the way New York sorts through those choices could shape just how long this title window stays open. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Have An Under-The-Radar Center Option Worth Watching
The Knicks have spent much of the summer piecing together their frontcourt depth, and Duop Reath has emerged as a name worth keeping on the radar. With Mitchell Robinson gone and the team thin on true big men, Reath fits the profile of a low-cost depth center who could help fill out the roster if New York wants another body in the middle.
Reaths NBA path has been uneven since a strong rookie year, with his production trending down over three seasons, but there is still some intrigue here because he is reportedly healthy after foot surgery. He has also been seen working out with other players as he prepares for the upcoming season, which keeps the door open on whether the Knicks view him as more than just an emergency option. [Read more 🡒]