The Resurrection of the Knicks

Author: Will Goldmark

Editor: Mark Awadallah

It goes without saying that the New York Knickerbockers have exceeded expectations throughout the first 32 games of the NBA season. Currently sitting at 15-17, the Knicks would face off against their rivals from across the East River if the season ended today. This team’s roster is not dramatically different from last year. Sure, Austin Rivers has excelled in his leadership role, and rookie Immanuel Quickley has made an immediate impact by displaying his natural knack for scoring in a number of ways. However, the quick turnaround from last year’s 21-45 team primarily falls on the shoulders of two people: Julius Randle and Tom Thibodeau

Randle looks like a completely different human this year. He’s shooting far more efficiently, with his 3P% has improved from 28% to 41%. His playmaking abilities have also been exhibited this year, as he’s been exceptional at finding the open man and refraining from taking contested shots. Randle has had the appearance of the player the Lakers drafted 7th overall in 2014, and he is certainly living up to his $63 million contract that the Knicks doled out the previous offseason.

Of course, Randle deserves plenty of credit for adjusting his game after a rough start to his tenure in New York. However, head coach Tom Thibodeau should also be acknowledged for helping resurrect Randle’s career and for changing the culture of the entire team. No New York Knicks fans are going to lie; this roster is not the most talented in the NBA. However, they play just as hard as anyone, as they are the current league leaders in Opp. PPG and Opp. FG%. This team is composed of young and hungry ballplayers that bring energy every time they step on the court.

Regardless of how fun it might be for Knicks fans to watch their team compete in a night-in, night-out basis, let’s face reality: this team is not going anywhere this year. However, this squad largely resembles the 2018-2019 Brooklyn Nets. That Nets team was not filled with the superstars that they currently have, but rather a core of scrappy players that willed themselves into the playoffs off of sheer effort and cohesiveness as a unit. The league took notice, and the following offseason, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving decided to start the new chapter of their careers there. If the Knicks can hang around .500 this season, while continuing to properly develop their young players, this year will be considered an enormous success.

SPORTS ARE OUR UNIVERSE