The New York Knicks are finally playing defense-and not just in spurts or with smoke and mirrors. After a rough 2-9 stretch that had fans and analysts alike questioning the team’s direction, the Knicks have flipped the script with four straight wins, and the most encouraging part? They’re locking teams down.
This isn’t just about beating struggling squads. Yes, two of those wins came against the Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings, who’ve had their issues.
But the Knicks also smothered the Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors-two offenses that can punish you if you’re not locked in. The Raptors, in particular, have been trending up offensively this month, and the Knicks still managed to keep them in check.
In fact, across this four-game win streak, only the Sixers managed to crack the 100-point mark, and even their 109 felt like a win for New York’s defense.
So, what’s changed? A few things. Let’s start with the guy who’s been the engine behind this defensive resurgence.
OG Anunoby: Back in the Lab, Breaking Offenses
When OG Anunoby is dialed in, he’s a defensive nightmare for opponents-and lately, he’s been locked in like few others in the league. Over the last four games, Anunoby has racked up 10 steals, including a ridiculous six-steal performance against Toronto. Add in seven deflections, and it’s clear he’s not just reacting-he’s dictating.
“Those numbers are unheard of defensively,” Knicks head coach Mike Brown said after the Toronto game. And he’s not exaggerating.
Anunoby’s anticipation is elite. He doesn’t just read plays-he sees them before they happen.
His timing, his ability to jump passing lanes, and his feel for where the ball is headed make him a disruptor in the truest sense. He’s not just playing defense; he’s tilting the floor.
What’s helped Anunoby get back to this level? One key factor: more time on the floor with Mitchell Robinson.
Mitchell Robinson: The Anchor Returns
Robinson’s impact doesn’t always show up in the box score, but if you’ve watched the Knicks lately, you know how vital he’s been. After spending much of the early season on a load management plan, Robinson is finally ramping up. He’s logged 24-plus minutes in six games this January-compare that to just three such games before December, and you see the difference.
More Robinson on the floor means more flexibility for Brown to lean into defense-first lineups. It also gives guys like Anunoby the freedom to gamble a little more on the perimeter, knowing there’s a safety net behind them.
Let’s talk lineups for a second. The Knicks’ standard starting five-Brunson, Hart, Bridges, Anunoby, and Towns-has struggled defensively, posting a 120.6 defensive rating.
But swap Towns for Robinson, and things start to shift. That same group with Robinson has a 114.5 defensive rating.
Still not elite, but a step in the right direction.
Now, dig a little deeper and the numbers get even more interesting. Throw McBride into the mix with Brunson, Anunoby, and Robinson, and the defensive rating drops to 105.5.
Bring in Landry Shamet and take out Bridges, and that number plummets to 85.4-albeit in a small sample size. These aren’t flukes.
These are defensive-minded lineups finally getting meaningful minutes together, and the results are showing.
Landry Shamet: The Unsung Hero
Here’s a sentence few expected to write this season: The Knicks have looked significantly better with Landry Shamet back in the rotation.
After missing more than a month with a shoulder sprain, Shamet returned two weeks ago and has quickly reestablished himself as one of the team’s most important role players. He’s not just hitting shots-he’s making life miserable for opposing guards.
Shamet brings a level of physicality and screen navigation that the Knicks sorely missed while he was out. Brown has long viewed him as one of the team’s best point-of-attack defenders, and it’s easy to see why.
He competes on every possession, fights through screens, and doesn’t give up easy angles. That kind of effort sets a tone.
His return has also meant a reduced role-or in some cases, no role-for Jordan Clarkson. While Clarkson can heat up offensively, the Knicks have needed more balance on the wing, especially next to Brunson.
Shamet provides that. He defends, spaces the floor, and doesn’t need the ball to be effective.
That’s been a game-changer.
The Bigger Picture
This four-game stretch doesn’t mean the Knicks have solved everything. The sample sizes are still small, and the schedule gets tougher from here. But what we’re seeing is a team that’s starting to figure out its identity again-one built on physicality, communication, and defensive grit.
Anunoby is back to being a menace. Robinson is healthy and altering shots.
Shamet is giving them a defensive backbone on the perimeter. And Brown has finally started leaning into lineups that make sense on both ends of the floor.
For a team that looked lost just a couple of weeks ago, this version of the Knicks is starting to look like the one fans hoped to see all season. The defense is back-and if it sticks, the Knicks might be a tougher out than anyone expected.