We’re nearing a month into the 2024-25 NBA season and the Knicks are still finding their footing. New York is 4-5 thus far with a couple standout wins among head-scratching losses, a mixed bag of results that should solidify as the season progresses.
Though it’s a small sample size, these few games have shined some light on this new-look squad and given their front office and fans some things to consider as the year heats up. Here are four early-season takeaways on the Knicks:
Work-in-progress
This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but trading two key starters for an All-Star bringing a less-than-familiar skillset the day before training camp will naturally bring an adjustment period with it. Fans hoped the team would gel sooner rather than later, but if one thing is evident thus far, it’s that these Knicks are a work in progress.
They’ve yet to coalesce around a tangible identity, not defending or controlling the possession game like their last two iterations, but not pumping up the pace and three-point volume behind their robust offense either. Guys appear to understand their roles, but still fall victim to miscommunication and other expected speed bumps in building chemistry.
All of this was expected, but patience can wear thin given their expectations and caliber of talent, and at some point the front office will need to decide if their idealized version of this squad is a couple tweaks or a whole shakeup away from being realized. Ultimately, they will be judged on the Knicks’ wins and losses in April and beyond as opposed to these, but tangible progress will ideally be made sooner rather than later.
Karl-Anthony Towns is a generational offensive talent
The preferred return on the Julius Randle-Towns trade is an NBA championship, but in the meantime fans can rejoice in the Knicks acquiring a truly special scorer that stands out even against this franchise’s rich history. Towns is averaging 24.9 points, 12.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists on 53.2 percent shooting from two, 53.7 percent from three and 87.5 percent from the free throw stripe.
Those efficiency numbers, especially from three, are almost unmatched across the league, and we’ve yet to see Towns get fully comfortable with the offense yet. He’s only attempted 4.6 threes a night, which would be his lowest mark since 2019, one symptom of Jalen Brunson and his team still growing accustomed to Towns’ game.
Despite that, Towns already put up a masterclass 44-point night in a win against the Miami Heat, and has scored 30+ in three consecutive outings. His passing has also been an enormous positive, and we should see more of it implemented into New York’s schemes as the season continues.
Josh Hart sure isn’t lost
After the offseason’s shocking blockbuster trades, it looked like Hart could be the odd man out of this Knicks lineup. On paper he looked like the worst starter, many fans hoped Miles McBride would replace him given his superior spacing, and he only scored two points in four Knicks preseason games.
That storyline appears to have resolved itself quickly, as Hart’s leaned on what he does best: defend, rebound, push and create. He’s averaging 13.8 points, nine rebounds and five assists on 57.3 percent shooting from the field thus far, with his impact being felt far beyond those numbers.
Hart stepped up to the call of picking up on the rebounding lost by dealing Julius Randle and losing most of their center depth, currently second on the team in defensive rebound rate and third in offensive rebound rate. He’s done well to help push the pace and get his team into early offense, as well as serving as a connector in the halfcourt between these dangerous offensive options.
Depth will be a major sticking point
From a star perspective, the Knicks have been relatively healthy. However, with injuries to key reserves Precious Achiuwa, Cameron Payne, Landry Shamet and Mitchell Robinson, their already-questionable depth is even worse off. So much so that in their last contest against Indiana, head coach Tom Thibodeau effectively employed a seven-man rotation, with four starters exceeding 40 minutes in an early November matchup.
As many fans have loudly proclaimed, there are options to help mitigate the usage problem (if not the depth question) such as rookies Tyler Kolek and Pacome Dadiet, along with newly-signed veteran Matt Ryan. Thibodeau historically values any individual win above most long-term considerations that detract from winning, so experimenting with defensively unproven neophytes or fringe options likely isn’t in the cards.
He may be forced to change his stance in light of current results. Overplaying starters isn’t winning enough bench minutes and it’s exhausted them come the fourth quarters of games.
Beyond the short-term challenges, even if the Knicks click they’d have to pray for pristine health come the postseason if they’re going to win four series with eight guys. Though nothing’s been reported, it would be surprising if the Knicks weren’t active by the trade deadline and or waiver market to backfill some talent.
