The Knicks won’t have to wait long to learn the shape of their season, but the most obvious part of the puzzle might already be sitting right in front of them.
On Tuesday morning, New York will find out its opening week slate - including its Christmas Day opponent - when the schedule starts rolling out on Good Morning America. The NBA Cup schedule comes Wednesday, and the full schedule lands Thursday. Before all that arrives, though, one opening-night matchup stands out above the rest.
It should be the Sixers.
Better yet, it should be the new-look Sixers. LeBron James’ first game with Philadelphia belongs in New York, and the same goes for Jaylen Brown. The buzz around Knicks-Sixers is already massive, so there’s no real reason to drag it out.
And if the NBA wants a little extra theater, there’s plenty to work with. Having Philadelphia on the wrong end of banner and ring night would add another layer to the whole thing.
Last season, the Knicks opened against Cleveland, and that’s a possibility again this year. New York swept the Cavaliers in the conference finals, just as it had done to the Sixers in the second round, but Cleveland doesn’t carry the same opening-night punch.
Philadelphia does.
The Sixers entered the offseason looking stuck, but they’re now in the best position they’ve been in a long time to chase a championship. And if they’re going to get there, the Knicks are likely to be part of the road.
Sure, the version of Philadelphia that shows up on opening night might not be the same one New York sees later if these teams meet in the playoffs. It’ll take time for the Sixers to settle in.
Even so, that doesn’t dull the appeal much. If anything, it adds another angle, so long as Philly is healthy and ready to go.
The Knicks and Sixers already know plenty about each other, and recent years have only tightened that connection. But this summer added a new wrinkle, and the NBA should lean into it immediately. There will be plenty of Knicks-Sixers games to go around anyway.
Make it happen.
In Other News...
Knicks May Be Misreading Deuce McBrides Real Roster Value
The conversation around Deuce McBride has taken on a familiar Knicks wrinkle: a useful young guard who gets talked about like a potential trade chip before anyone really settles his actual price. McBrides role and usage have made him easy to project into bigger talks, but the latest read on his value suggests New York may be looking at a player whose re-signing number is not as daunting as some around the league have assumed.
Jordan Goodwins three-year, $19 million deal is one of the cleaner reference points for where McBride could fit in the market, and that comparison matters for a Knicks team trying to balance flexibility with keeping workable backcourt depth. Unless a genuinely strong trade offer emerges, the safer play may be to hold onto McBride through next season and let the market sort itself out rather than treat him like a piece that has to be moved before free agency. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Just Gave Fans A Real Reason To Dream Bigger
The Knicks are heading into the 2026-27 season with something they have not had in more than half a century: the weight and confidence of being champions. After ending a 53-year title drought by winning the 2026 NBA Finals, the franchise now finds itself in the unfamiliar position of being talked about as a possible repeat contender, not just a feel-good champion. That change did not happen by accident. A better net rating, a different approach on the bench after Tom Thibodeau gave way to Mike Brown, and fewer minutes for key players all helped drive a more efficient title run.
Mike Browns arrival gave the group a different rhythm, and the Knicks benefited from a cleaner, more sustainable style over the course of the season. Repeating in the NBA is notoriously hard, especially compared with other major North American sports, which is why the conversation around New York is already shifting from celebration to survival. The challenge now is not proving the title was real. It is handling the expectations that come with it, and keeping enough in reserve to make another long run possible. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Could Soon Face A Costly Josh Hart Decision
Josh Harts next contract is already shaping up to be one of the Knicks more delicate financial conversations. He is eligible for an extension that could run as long as four years and $131.2 million, and even if that number is more ceiling than expectation, it puts New York in a familiar spot: trying to reward a valuable rotation piece without boxing itself into a corner. The team also holds a $22.4 million option on Hart for the 2027-28 season, which only adds another layer to the timing and leverage involved.
The backdrop here is the same one that shadows every contender with a rising payroll, especially in a market like New York where every future dollar matters. Recent deals for players such as Dillon Brooks and Naji Marshall offer a sense of how quickly the price for dependable wing help can climb, and the Knicks are hoping their broader success can help keep Harts next contract from becoming even more expensive. For now, the challenge is less about whether Hart fits than how much that fit will cost. [Read more 🡒]