The New York Knicks have experienced major changes after failing to reach the 2025 NBA Finals.
Following the final of the Eastern Conference against the Indiana Pacers, the Knicks decided to fire Tom Thibodeau.
After a massive head coaching search, the Knicks hired former Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown.
Brown has the luxury of working for a highly talented roster. This is considered a favorite to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy this season.
Brown has many elite players who will help out with the New York roster, including Mikal Bridge.
The Knicks gave up a lot to cross the bridge in 2024 and abandoned the fifth first round pick. It was a sudden price to pay, but the bridge brings a lot of value to both ends of the floor.
Brown praised the bridge on Knicks Media Day.
“Michal is one of those people who’ve been here almost every day. Sometimes he comes twice a day.
“It’s incredible to have a guy like Mikal on your roster, not just because he’s a great basketball player and brings a lot of versatility on both sides of the floor, but he’s a great person. You can say that his mom raised him right.
“I look forward to seeing him get on the floor and see him do his best offensively and defensively.
“Leon and his group will give you a comfortable level as a head coach who knows he will be there for a while, that he can lock him up for many years.”
The Knicks have no excuses to enter the 2025-26 NBA season.
The Knicks can increase their depth and bring in Jordan Clarkson, Gershon Jabselle and Malcolm Brogdon and they won’t have to deal with the extremely tough competition.
The Boston Celtics are expected to take a step back, with Jason Tatum recovering from Achilles’ surgery and the Indiana Pacers being a threat to Tyrese Halliburton, who has recovered from Achilles’ injuries.
So the Knicks’ biggest challengers at the East Conference are the Cleveland Cavaliers, who were unable to do that in the playoffs, and the inexperienced Orlando magic.
The window for the opportunity is for the Knicks, they just need to grab the moment.