A sigh of relief accompanied a smile as Mike Brown stepped into his role as head coach of the New York Knicks. Replacing Tom Thibodeau and starting the season with high summer expectations for the first time in years, Brown aimed for a strong beginning.
“Good first win,” Brown stated after the Knicks’ season-opening triumph over the Cleveland Cavaliers, while acknowledging there’s significant room for improvement.
Changes have been frequent at Madison Square Garden over the past year, notably starting with the unexpected September 2024 trade of Julius Randle to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Karl-Anthony Towns. (Randle returns to New York for the second time Wednesday; 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.)
Currently, only two-way wing Mikal Bridges appears fully acclimated to Brown’s system, which emphasizes ball movement and a quicker tempo. Averaging career highs in shooting percentages, Bridges seems revitalized from his hesitant first season as a Knick, no longer dependent on All-Stars Jalen Brunson and Towns.
However, the overall identity of the Knicks remains unclear. Brown’s new strategy has shown inconsistencies, contributing to a bottom-10 pace over the first seven games. Towns is gradually adjusting to this approach after an All-NBA first season under Thibodeau.
Opening night represented a significant shift from the previous year. Before their surprise victory over the defending champion Boston Celtics, the Knicks had struggled against the East’s top teams, going 0-8 last season. Their win against the Cavs indicates they might contend in a conference lacking a dominant force. What is the Knicks’ standing in this pursuit, and could injuries impede their journey?
