Hold your head up high, New York Knicks fans. It seems as though the dark days for this franchise are in the rearview, and winning basketball is making a return to the Big Apple. To put it simply, your starting frontcourt no longer features Cole Aldrich and Quincy Acy. After a successful regular season in 2023 and their first playoff series win since 2013, the Knicks look to stake their claim as a rightful contender in the Eastern Conference. According to ESPN, the Knicks have six top-100 players in the NBA this season, including returning star-caliber players and new faces who will look to make an immediate impact. How far can this roster go as currently constructed?
New York Knicks 2023-24 Season Preview
Star Power: Jalen Brunson
In Jalen Brunson‘s first season in New York after signing a $104 million contract over four years, he helped lead the team to 47 wins while averaging 24 points and six assists per contest. In the regular season, he may have been snubbed of his first All-Star game appearance, but in the playoffs, Brunson shined even brighter. The Knicks quickly dispatched the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games, leading to a second-round berth for the first time in a decade. Although the Knicks were defeated in six games by the eventual Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat, Brunson proved he is a playoff riser, increasing his scoring average to 27.8 points per game.
Going into 2023-24, Brunson profiles as a player that’s going to give you what you expect of him. 20-plus points on great efficiency, solid playmaking, and a commitment to winning. Based on the team’s personnel and the ever-improving offense in the NBA today, it doesn’t look as though this will change.
Several facets of Brunson’s game will foreseeably stay consistent throughout 2023-24, one being his deadly accuracy from the mid-range. Brunson shot 50.5% on shots from 15-19 feet in 2022-23, and he can get a shot from that range on a whim. A solid playmaker, Brunson will get to these spots and bend defenses in a way that opens his teammates up for clean looks on the perimeter. Barring any extraneous circumstances, Jalen Brunson will continue to provide value to a winning basketball team in New York this season.
Return to Form: Julius Randle
Depending on who you ask, Julius Randle‘s tenure in New York either makes him a top-10 Knick of all time or puts him firmly on the trade block. The 2021 Most Improved Player Award winner and 2023 All-Star has had a shaky last two seasons, but has he? After a rough 2022 season, Randle returned to his Most Improved ways in 2023. Higher scoring numbers, fewer turnovers, and better effective field goal percentage, so what’s there to dislike? Other than a sizable drop in three-point percentage, the Knicks big man contributed to a shift in culture and had some of the best scoring performances of his career, including a 57-point explosion against Minnesota.
Although Randle puts together great statistical seasons more often than not, streaky shooting, shot selection, and body language are some of his biggest struggles. For the Knicks to take a step up in a top-heavy Eastern Conference, there’s no getting around needing Randle’s efficiency to improve. He has proven himself to be a capable shooter in the NBA as evidenced by his 2021 campaign when he shot a blistering 41.1% from deep on 5.5 attempts per game.
Julius Randle is an intriguing player because of his natural knack for scoring, his size, his agility, and his playmaking ability. In theory, Randle would be the perfect big to play a Sacramento-style of basketball, where the game flows through Domantis Sabonis as their hub on offense. You could back this up with Randle’s respectably low turnover numbers. The average came down to 2.8 from 3.4 last year, his lowest since the 2018-19 season.
For Randle to be successful in 2023-24, solid playmaking, consistent shooting, and defensive effort have to be on full display for 82 games.
The X-Factor: RJ Barrett
The third overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, “Star-J” Barrett has had some well-documented efficiency issues to begin his career. The 6’6″ guard/forward shot an abysmal 31% from the three-point range on over five attempts per game, and shot just 43% from the field last season. RJ has shown flashes of being a capable scorer, but his deficiencies on offense have shown more than his positives in his short career.
A kryptonite for RJ Barrett early in his career was his finishing at the basket, though in recent season’s he has marginally improved. In his rookie year, he shot 50.9% from less than five feet away from the basket, surely not a welcome sight at the time. That percentage has increased to 57.6% this past season, but again, the deficiencies seem to shine through even more. RJ Barrett has no semblance of an in-between game. Barrett cannot provide offense from anywhere between the three-point line and under the basket. He shot less than 40% from 8-16 feet and was a sub-30% shooter from 16-24 feet.
Barrett’s ball-handling and shot creation have always been on full display, he just needs to connect on open shots. The biggest hope one can have for RJ is that he’s been developing a mid-range game over this summer and that he will be the benefactor of more open shots thanks to the veteran help around him, and the space this team will be provided from their numerous shooting threats. As the team with the fourth-best offensive rating (117.0) last season, the Knicks could plausibly rise to number one with an efficient Barrett this season.
The Disruptors
When the New York Knicks dealt for Josh Hart during the 2022 trade deadline, there was a general feeling that the Knicks would win some more games solely because of the presence of Hart. Since entering the league in 2017, he’s been regarded for his defense, willingness to run the break, and his ability to crash the offensive glass and provide second-chance opportunities for his team. Hart averaged nearly two offensive rebounds per game last season, and seven per game in total.
If I may use a football term, Hart is a “game-wrecker.” A defensive player whose main function is causing chaos through his on-ball pressure and undying hustle. Hart also provided great floor-spacing, shooting 51.9% (!) on threes through 25 games as a Knick last season. While he will have a larger sample size of games this season, Hart will still provide solid floor-spacing and defensive prowess.
Every championship-caliber team possesses one hustle player with the ability to do the little things. Last season, it was Bruce Brown for the Nuggets. Two seasons ago, it was Gary Payton II for Golden State. Now, the Knicks have two of them, adding Donte DiVincenzo. The Knick’s most notable free agency signing from this summer has built a reputation as a “game-wrecker” as well. An NBA champion with Milwaukee in 2021, DiVincenzo will bring winning DNA to MSG. A solid three-point shooter and pass deflector, DiVincenzo will provide value to New York on both ends. He’s smart and trustworthy with the ball in his hands in the big moments, as well. The combination of Hart and DiVincenzo will wreak havoc on defense, and the New York Knicks will be running the break frequently thanks to this tandem.
The Future
Last season, the NBA world noticed Immanuel Quickley. A consistent Quickley turned up the heat once given an opportunity as the starting shooting guard for the Knicks. In 21 games as a starter, Quickley increased his scoring average while increasing his efficiency. He averaged 22.6 points, shooting 40.1% from deep in those starts. Quickley’s affinity for launching deep three-pointers caused headaches last season. He isn’t just connecting on more shots now, but he’s navigating through screens to get smarter shots. Though Quickley’s improved his scoring, his defense has been on the upward trend as well, as he’s increased his steals per game every year of his career. With expected contributions to a revamped defense this season, Quickley will continue to prove he was a worthy draft choice for the franchise.
A Rising Star in 2022-23 and a full-time starter for the New York Knicks, Quentin Grimes shot the ball incredibly well after a down rookie year. Grimes’ potential as a shooting threat for the Knicks cannot be understated. With one of the quickest jump shots in the Association, he can get his shot off over larger defenders with ease. It doesn’t matter if it’s off the dribble or the catch.
Grimes’ defensive potential was a storyline that slowly unraveled as the season progressed. In the playoffs, he was able to get on the Knicks fans’ good side through his on-ball defense. Especially in their series against Miami, Grimes had several jaw-dropping defensive plays. One of these included stealing the ball from Jimmy Butler seconds after being injured by a screen from Bam Adebayo. If Grimes comes into this season as a force on both ends, he will only contribute to what could be a top-10 defense.
The Men in the Middle
The center core for the Knicks in recent years has called for a specific archetype. To be a center for the New York Knicks, you need to be long, athletic, block a lot of shots, and not extend your range past 3 feet. The likes of Amar’e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler held down this role in the early-mid 2010’s. Now, Mitchell Robinson fills the role.
After breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s NBA record for the highest field goal percentage in a season (74.2%) in 2021-22, Robinson continues to convert on dunks and layups at a high rate while swatting shots on the other end. Robinson’s rebounding has also steadily improved over his 5-year career. As a roll threat, Robinson’s value is imperative to the success of the Knicks. The 36th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft has carved out a nice role for himself in New York, and his activity on both ends will heavily impact the Knicks ability to secure rebounds and attack coming down the floor on offense.
Since coming over from the Clippers in 2022, Isaiah Hartenstein was viewed as a quality backup big man. This perception has only grown during his tenure with New York, as he’s viewed by many as one of the best backup centers in the league. Another hard-nosed player, I-Hart bangs down low, grabs rebounds, and can occasionally hit an outside jumper if need be. In a shade under 20 minutes per game last season, Hartenstein averaged 6.5 rebounds a contest with 2.5 being offensive. Hartenstein adds to what looks to be a team of wily vets that will make plays on loose balls, strip would-be layups, and get hands in passing lanes.
The Last Word on the Knicks 2023-24 Season Expectations
On the brink of a 50-win season last year, the Knicks look to improve in an extremely competitive Eastern Conference. This gets exacerbated by the arrival of one Damian Lillard in Milwaukee. Here’s an unbelievable part about the Knicks’ chances in the playoffs against the teams that rank at the top in the East. In a lot of cases, they match up well. In the case of Milwaukee, take that with a tiny grain of salt. On the other hand, the Knicks match up quite well with the Philly’s and Boston’s of the world. The Knicks even took the season series against the C’s last year, winning three out of four against the club.
As a unit, the defense has to be what takes this team over the top. With the addition of DiVincenzo and anticipation of a full season from Josh Hart, the on-ball pressure will be suffocating for opponents on the perimeter. Even if attackers get through the front line, they will run into the open arms of Mitchell Robinson. A collaborative effort on defense, especially coming from the starters would change the complexion of the team, and surely their chances at competing for an NBA title in 2023-24.
After adding and retaining several key pieces, one could predict the Knicks to be a top-10 offense and defense by season’s end in 2024. This would be territory that most championship teams have been familiar with going into their post-season push. The Knicks project to be a top-5 seed in the Eastern Conference once again, and the bar will be set at 49 wins this year.
