The New York Knicks find themselves sitting comfortably as the third seed in the Eastern Conference with a 35-21 record, and they're often mentioned among the favorites for the 2026 NBA Championship. Yet, there's a growing sense of skepticism about their ability to secure their first title since 1973.
Howard Beck from The Ringer recently expressed concerns about the Knicks' current trajectory. He speculated whether Leon Rose and the Knicks' front office might consider re-evaluating their core if they don't reach the NBA Finals this season.
"The Knicks are now on, whatever it is, year two... of [Karl-Anthony] Towns... Because of the Giannis thing hanging out there and other factors, we don't really know how many more chances, if at all with this core, [they'll get]," Beck noted.
"The Knicks... went all-in on Mikal Bridges... To their credit, they are right there but it's a more crowded race than we anticipated."
The clock is ticking for the Knicks' core to demonstrate their championship potential.
Since Jalen Brunson joined the squad in 2022, the Knicks have been on an upward trajectory. Last season's bold moves to acquire Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges led to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since the 1999-2000 season.
Now, with Brunson, Towns, Bridges, and OG Anunoby spearheading the team, the consensus is clear: anything less than reaching the NBA Finals would be a disappointment. Stephen A. Smith has even gone on record saying, "they ain't going to no damn Finals."
If the Knicks fall short again, as Beck suggested, the future of their core could be in jeopardy. A failure to make a deep playoff run might push the front office to pursue big-name stars in the offseason.
With champions like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard potentially available, who could fault the Knicks for considering a shakeup?
Of course, pursuing such high-caliber players would likely mean parting ways with key figures like Towns, Anunoby, or Bridges. These players are set to be among the top earners next season, and their contracts would be essential in facilitating any major trades.
While Knicks fans might not relish the idea of a roster overhaul, the team is firmly in win-now mode. With one of the league's highest payrolls and a commitment to supporting Brunson both financially and competitively, missing out on the 2026 NBA Finals could make a significant roster change the only viable path forward.