Knicks Midseason Report Cards: Brunson Leads the Way, But Questions Remain
As the Knicks hit the All-Star break, they sit in a strong position with a 35-20 record - but how they got here has been anything but straightforward. With a new coach, a retooled roster, and sky-high expectations, this team has shown flashes of brilliance and stretches of inconsistency. Let’s break down how the key players - and the coach - have fared so far.
Jalen Brunson: A-
There’s no debate anymore - Jalen Brunson is that guy. Now a three-time All-Star, he continues to defy expectations and defenses alike.
Everyone in the league knows his game: undersized, crafty, reliant on footwork and deception. And yet, he’s still putting up 27 points a night.
That’s not just skill - that’s surgical execution.
Defensively, he’s not just holding his own - he’s leading the NBA in charges taken. That speaks to his basketball IQ and willingness to sacrifice.
Sure, there are still some awkward fits offensively, particularly with Karl-Anthony Towns, and his defensive metrics won’t wow you. But make no mistake: Brunson is the engine of this team.
Everything the Knicks do - and everything they hope to do - revolves around him.
Mikal Bridges: B-
When the Knicks brought in Mike Brown, many thought Bridges would be the biggest beneficiary. A coach who emphasizes movement, cutting, and transition seemed tailor-made for a player like him. And while his raw scoring numbers are down, the efficiency is quietly up - a sign that he’s finding ways to contribute even if it doesn’t always show up in the box score.
But here’s the thing: for someone with his two-way potential, the on-ball defense hasn’t quite lived up to the billing. And offensively, there are stretches where he fades into the background.
He’s capable of taking over games, but too often, he disappears. The Knicks need more consistency from him - not just flashes.
Josh Hart: B+
You can talk numbers - improved three-point shooting, more attempts, fewer minutes - but the most telling stat might be the team’s record with and without him: 29-14 when he plays, 6-6 when he doesn’t. That’s not a coincidence.
Hart is the glue. He complements Brunson better than anyone else on the roster, bringing toughness, versatility, and a willingness to do the dirty work.
He can initiate offense like a point guard, defend multiple positions, and never needs the ball to make an impact. Early in the season, he was coming off the bench, even finishing some games on the sidelines.
That didn’t last long. Once Mike Brown put him back in the starting lineup, the Knicks started to look like themselves again.
OG Anunoby: B
If there’s a swing factor on this roster, it’s OG Anunoby. He’s the Knicks’ most versatile defender - capable of locking down anyone from a shifty point guard to a towering center.
He can switch, double, rotate, and smother. Offensively, his three-point shooting and explosive drives give the Knicks a needed edge.
But there’s a catch: he’s missed 14 of the team’s 55 games. And right now, there’s no clear timeline for his return.
That uncertainty looms large. If he’s healthy, he gives the Knicks a legitimate shot at making noise in the playoffs.
If he’s not, the ceiling changes.
Karl-Anthony Towns: B-
KAT is an All-Star - and on paper, he’s still one of the most skilled bigs in the game. But this season has been a bit of a rollercoaster. With Mike Brown’s arrival came a shift in role and positioning, one that took Towns away from his biggest offensive weapon: that limitless shooting range that forces defenders to stretch the floor.
The adjustment hasn’t been smooth. He’s battled foul trouble, struggled with efficiency, and looked uncomfortable at times.
Over the final eight games before the break, he averaged just 16.3 points and shot 24% from deep. But he also grabbed nearly 15 rebounds a game and, maybe more importantly, started to look like he was having fun again.
Perhaps the passing of the trade deadline lifted a weight. Now the question is whether this version of Towns - active, engaged, and smiling - sticks around.
Bench: C
The Knicks’ bench has been a mixed bag - deep, yes, but not always in the ways they expected.
Mitchell Robinson, once a starter, has thrived in a bench role, anchoring the defense and dominating the glass. Landry Shamet has been a Swiss Army knife - stepping in as a starter when needed, hitting 42.2% from three, and defending at a high level.
Deuce McBride, when healthy, has shot the ball well from deep. Rookie Mo Diawara has been a pleasant surprise - a raw talent who looks like a long-term piece.
But the offseason additions? Not so much.
Guerschon Yabusele never quite fit and was dealt at the deadline. Jordan Clarkson has yet to find his rhythm.
The Knicks took a swing by bringing in Jeremy Sochan with the final roster spot, and Jose Alvarado, acquired in the Yabusele deal, already looks like a better fit.
So while the bench has produced in spurts, it’s still a work in progress.
Coach Mike Brown: B-
Mike Brown walked into one of the highest-pressure jobs in the league. Taking over for Tom Thibodeau - fresh off an Eastern Conference Finals run - with a mandate from ownership to win a title? That’s a tall order.
To his credit, Brown has shown flexibility. He scrapped his original lineups after 15 games.
He adjusted Towns’ role - maybe too much, too soon - but he’s learning. He’s not overextending his stars for midseason wins, but he’s also not punting on games.
That’s a tightrope walk in New York.
The Knicks are 35-20 under his leadership, and while the true judgment will come in the playoffs, Brown has kept the ship steady through injuries, lineup tweaks, and sky-high expectations.
Final Word:
The Knicks aren’t a finished product - far from it. But they’re winning, and more importantly, they’re learning how to win in different ways.
Brunson is the heart. Hart is the soul.
Towns, Anunoby, and Bridges each hold pieces of the puzzle.
Now it’s about putting it all together for the stretch run.