The Knicks are heading into the new season with a starting five built around experience, and that comes with a wrinkle no other NBA team is currently dealing with.
New York is expected to run back the same starting lineup it has used over the past two years, but the age profile is striking. Jalen Brunson turned 30 on Monday, and Mikal Bridges hit the same milestone one day earlier. That puts four projected starters in their 30s before the season even begins, making the Knicks the only team in the league with at least four expected starters in that age range, assuming everyone is available.
Brunson and Bridges join Karl-Anthony Towns, who turned 30 on November 15, and Josh Hart, who turned 31 on March 6. The youngest starter in the group is OG Anunoby, who is 29 now and will turn 30 on July 17 of next year. By next offseason, all five members of the starting lineup will be 30 or older.
There are other teams that could eventually get there, but not right away. Denver’s roster includes Nikola Jokic (31), Aaron Gordon (30), and Cameron Johnson (30), while Jamal Murray is still 29 and turns 30 on February 23, late in the 2026-27 regular season.
Golden State is also built around veterans, with Stephen Curry (38), Draymond Green (36), and Kristaps Porzingis (31) expected to start. Jimmy Butler turns 37 on September 14, though he is still months away from a possible return from his torn ACL.
The Knicks also have a pair of veteran reserves projected to matter next season: Andre Drummond, who is 33, and Jordan Clarkson, who is 34. Landry Shamet will turn 30 on March 13.
That age load is worth watching after New York’s shorter-than-normal offseason. Everyone named here was part of the championship run except Drummond, and the wear could matter more now that these players are no longer in their 20s. Brunson also had wrist surgery on his shooting hand, and while he is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season, it may take some time for him to get back into rhythm.
Still, there’s a clear upside to this setup. None of the Knicks’ starters are deep into their 30s, so a major drop-off from the group should not be the expectation. Even with the age concern, New York should again be in the title conversation.
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Brunson had offseason surgery and is still waiting to be cleared for basketball activities as training camps near, which leaves a fresh layer of uncertainty around a player who powered New Yorks climb when it mattered most. Peyton Watson recently talked about how hard it is to navigate the playoffs while hurt, noting his own hamstring strain and how injuries can shape a series, and Brunsons case is another reminder of just how far title runs can be pushed by guys willing to play through it. [Read more 🡒]