There is a certain charm to performing well with the New York Knicks. They are one of the biggest franchises in the NBA, and Madison Square Garden is often considered the “Mecca” of basketball. Every player wants to do well at the Mecca, and the Garden has been host to some of the best games in the history of the NBA. Including Reggie Miller‘s eight points in nine seconds, Carmelo Anthony‘s 62-piece, Jeremy Lin‘s 38 to outduel Kobe Bryant, and many more.
Knicks in the Spotlight: 5 Greatest Seasons of the 21st Century
Let’s dive back into history. Despite the lack of success in the 21st century, the Knicks have had a share of some great individual seasons. So, let’s dive in. What are the five greatest seasons by Knicks players in the 21st century?
Qualifiers:
To make this list, there are a few things that a player has to cross the threshold for:
- Players must play at least 65 games.
- Players must make the All-Star team.
Both of these requirements are relatively straightforward. It can’t be one of the best seasons in recent memory if you play less than 80% of the games. You have to make the All-Star team because that also signifies how good your year is compared to the rest of the league.
Best Seasons in a Knicks Jersey (21st Century Edition)
5. Carmelo Anthony (2013-14)
Carmelo Anthony’s time in New York is arguably the most productive stretch in his career. In the 2013-14 season, Carmelo put up 27.4 points, 3.1 assists, and 8.1 rebounds on 45.2/40.2/84.8 shooting splits. Despite the Knicks’ lack of success as a team, Carmelo thrived this season. The Knicks were five points better when he was on the court, and he had a PER of 24.4, the second-highest mark in his career. He was worth 10.7 win shares on the season, over two times more than the next player on the team. This season is also famous for Carmelo’s 62-point barrage against the Charlotte Bobcats. He broke the record for most points scored by a Knick, and that record stands to this day, over 10 years later. Melo was named an All-Star this season and finished 15th in MVP Voting.
4. Julius Randle (2022-23)
Julius Randle‘s Knicks tenure has been a huge leap since the Jalen Brunson signing in the summer of 2022. In the 2022-23 season, Randle put up 25.1 points, 4.1 assists, and 10.0 rebounds on 45.9/34.3/75.7 shooting splits. He was 1A to Jalen Brunson’s 1B and was a huge factor in the Knicks’ return to the playoffs, where they lost a hard-fought series to the Miami Heat in six games. The Knicks were +3.7 when he was on the court, and Randle was 3.7 times more valuable than a replacement-level player. Randle’s efforts this season led him to be named an All-Star, and he came 14th in Clutch Player of the Year Voting. He ended the season with his second All-NBA appearance, this time on the All-NBA third Team.
3. Julius Randle (2020-21)
The Knicks’ win total in the 2020-21 season was set at 21.5, the lowest mark in the league that season. Instead, they went 41-31 and made the playoffs for the 1st time in almost a decade. This season is above No.4 because of the burden Randle carried as the lone option. In the 2020-21 season, Randle averaged 24.1 points, 6 assists, and 10.2 rebounds on 45.6/41.1/81.1 shooting splits. He led the team in every major counting stat and was the primary reason for their surprising playoff run that season. The Knicks were +3.8 when Randle was on the court, and he was by far the most valuable cog of that Knicks team. For his efforts, Randle won the Most Improved Player of the Year award and was an All-Star. He finished 8th in MVP voting and was named to the All-NBA second team for the first time in his career.
2. Carmelo Anthony (2012-13)
Prime Melo at the Garden. There’s not much more one can ask for. Arguably the best season of his career, Anthony averaged a league-leading 28.7 points alongside 2.6 assists and 6.9 boards. He had a career-high PER of 24.83 and was instrumental in the team winning 54 games. The team won Melo’s minutes by 4.3 points, and the Knicks were able to capitalize on his prowess to reach the second round of the playoffs, where they would lose in six games to the Indiana Pacers. Melo did most of the damage on his own, leading the league with a 37.6% usage rate, the 25th-highest single-season mark ever. Melo was named an All-Star and was placed on the All-NBA second team for the sixth time in his career. He came third in MVP voting, losing to LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
1. Jalen Bruson (2023-24)
The difference between Jalen Brunson’s 2023-24 season and Carmelo Anthony’s 2012-13 season is minute. Brunson averaged 28.7 points, 6.7 assists, and 3.6 boards on 47.9/40.1/84.7 shooting splits. The Knicks were +5.8 when he was on the court, and it was playmaking that kept the Knicks’ offense afloat. He was 5.4 times more valuable than the replacement-level player, and he single-handedly propelled them to their best season in almost a decade.
What differentiates Brunson from Carmelo is the burden that was placed on them. Brunson lost multiple starters for long stretches throughout the season, and the Knicks still won 50 games. He shot the ball better than Melo did and was more valuable to his team than Melo. When Melo was on the bench, the 2012-13 Knicks played like a 47-win team compared to a 57-win team when he played. The 2023-24 Knicks played like a 61-win team when Brunson was on the floor compared to a 27-win team when he sat. For his performance, Brunson was named to his 1st All-Star game ever. He finished fifth in MVP voting and was announced to the 2023-24 All-NBA second team.
The Last Word
It is strange that one of the marquee franchises in the NBA has had just a handful of players make the All-Star game this century. But the Knicks are now an elite contender for the 1st time since the 1999-00 season. They are positioned to have a sustained run of excellence. For Knicks fans who have witnessed some dark days this century, this is a sign of change.
