Heading into the 2025-26 season, the New York Knicks have a deeper roster than most people think. The Knicks already had a talented group, but Tom Thibodeau is against using most of that depth, while Mike Brown is against.
The NBA community has been familiar with the New York Knicks over the past few seasons. They were a great team, but they tended to drift away as they were injured and tired by the end of the season and postseason.
The 2025 playoffs were promising as they reached the Eastern Conference Finals. Unfortunately, Tom Thibodeau had no dynamic spinning and his system was scouted. This left the Knicks with him and hired Mike Brown to replace him.
Now that Brown is in charge, the team has done things the previous coaching staff couldn’t do. Brown knows the starter and anyone he trusts, but one of the players who stand out against him is Tray Jemison, who performed in great preseason against the Philadelphia 76ers.
As an undrafted player in the 2023 class, Jemison is working hard to win a regular spot in the NBA. He played for multiple teams around the league and won two-way contracts with the New Orleans Pelican and the Los Angeles Lakers.
During his stint with the Lakers, he played 22 games, and although he wasn’t outstanding, he was a decent big man. The Lakers abandoned Jemison in the summer of 2025, but he rose to the Knicks on another two-way contract.
In the preseason, the 25-year-old center showed he could be a big guy that would be useful to Mike Brown. The Knicks head coach was impressed by the way Jemison and Pacom Dadiette faced the 76ers in a preseason game at Etihad Arina in Abu Dhabi.
“The defensive player in our game tonight was Trey Jemison, and that was him because he played eight or nine minutes and had two verticalities. So they were picture-perfect. He went to help.
“And you can see how difficult it is for a guy to take that hit and yet it’s still about to finish. Tray influenced the game at a very high level on the defensive floor.”
Players like Jemison and Dadiet are evidence that the Knicks have an impressive depth. They will probably get sporadic minutes during the regular season, but they stand out if they are given a chance amid all the Knicks’ changes.
The Knicks have been top-heavy for a long time, so Brown would want to take advantage of it. Stars like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are productive, but the Knicks have to take care of them for a few minutes, so they’re fresh for the playoffs.
It will be important for the 2025-26 season as players like Jemison and Dadiet are hungry for contributions. The Knicks, along with the Cleveland Cavaliers, are one of the Eastern Conference’s biggest favorites. If you can use the depth well, you can compete in the NBA Finals.
It will be a long 82-game season, but the Knicks are focused on solidifying themselves as a top team. They have a full team with talented star players, hardworking role players, hungry players outside the rotation who want to make a difference like Jemison.