The New York Knicks have a great chance to compete for titles in the 2025-26 season. More people understand that as Kendrick Perkins shows his belief in the possibility of winning the title.
The Eastern Conference has not been stacked as well as in the 2024-25 season due to a lack of team superstars. The New York Knicks emerged as one of their favourites to win the conference as a major team lost a star to Achilles’ injury. They have a solid team that improved in the 2025 offseason on the coaching staff and roster.
The Knicks have gradually improved their team over the past few seasons, and the 2025-26 campaign could be the Knicks filming. They have all the tools to become a first team, but the main reason is their superstar guard Jalen Brunson.
He grew into one of the league’s best offensive players, and the Knicks benefited from his development. The league has noticed his rise and the Knicks’ chance to gain more success towards the 2025-26 campaign.
During his NBA career, Kendrick Perkins played with many top talents, including LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Paul Pierce. All of these players led the team to the NBA Finals. Perkins knows what superstars need to lead their teams to the promised land.
It’s a challenging road, especially for a small guard like Branson. Despite this, Perkins knows that the Knicks can compete and perhaps win the Eastern Conference. Perkins is a big claim, especially when the Cleveland Cavaliers want to redeem themselves.
Even if the Cavaliers run a strong campaign in the 2025-26 season, Perkins is looking at the improvements New York has made in the offseason. It drove them to the Eastern summit with his opinion.
“For me, they are the best team at the Eastern Conference, and I know the Celtics are in somewhat of a rebuild mode.
“They dealt with the issues they needed to deal with. You go, get a bench player who is going to play their part and still keep your whole core together.”
The 2025-26 campaign will be a challenging campaign for the Knicks as they face other top teams, including the Cavaliers and Giannis’ Anteto Compo-led Milwaukee Bucks. New York has all the tools to become a top team, including Mike Brown, a coach with experience participating in the Golden State Warriors staff championships.
"Our goal…is to build a sustainable winning culture that produces championships
"That's why I'm here."
– Coach Mike Brown of the Knicks pic.twitter.com/1GKQWWYplE
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) July 8, 2025
Even the Boston Celtics, who don’t have Jason Tatum, will be a tough matchup. However, the Knicks are gradually improving year by year, so they need to live up to expectations. The 2025-26 season is their opportunity and they have to take advantage of it.
The Cavaliers are the biggest threat in the East. But with players like Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, the Knicks have a deep team. It could prove to be a victory formula as they continue to compete for the honor of being Eastern representatives against the Western Conference.