Over the last four years, the Knicks have enjoyed their best stretch of basketball in two decades, making the playoffs three times and winning two playoff series.
Defense has been a central theme of the club’s recent success. The Knicks have ranked in the top 11 in defensive efficiency in three out of the last four seasons.
Now, after trading for Mikal Bridges in a blockbuster deal with the Brooklyn Nets, the Knicks have assembled on paper their best team in at least a decade. The addition of Bridges gives New York its best recent collection of talent, especially on the defensive end.
Last season, the Knicks finished ninth in defensive efficiency, giving up 112.4 points per 100 possessions, per NBA Stats.
The combination of Bridges and OG Anunoby will give offenses nightmares and should make the Knicks’ defense even better. Both players excel as one-on-one defenders against elite offensive players. And both players are effective in help positions as well.
Anunoby has a 7-foot-2 wingspan and in certain situations, can guard all five positions. When he joined the Knicks in the middle of the season, New York’s defense transformed instantly. In the 802 minutes Anunoby was on the floor, the Knicks gave up 100.9 points per 100 possessions — a number that would’ve ranked first in the NBA.
Bridges has a 7-foot-1 wingspan and can guard four positions. He can make an impact on smaller guards and gives the Knicks another versatile defender.
Starting center Mitchell Robinson made an early case for the NBA’s All-Defensive team before an injury derailed his 2023-24 season. Backups Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo, Miles McBride and Precious Achiuwa are all plus defenders. Only stars Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle are average or subpar defenders in New York’s nine-man rotation.
A weakness of past Knicks teams was a lack of versatility to guard different lineups across the NBA. Now, New York is better equipped to deploy several defensive strategies. With Robinson on the floor, the Knicks can guard the pick-and-roll with the center in drop coverage where he can hang back in the paint. The team can also go to Achiuwa at center and switch pick and rolls across multiple positions.
With the long arms and athleticism of Anunoby and Bridges wreaking havoc on the perimeter, New York can also flirt with trapping schemes, extra pressure, and help in ways they weren’t able to in the past.
Potential weaknesses
There are some concerns for New York’s defense to watch for. Though the Knicks have quality defenders across the roster. Only Anunoby, Bridges, and Hart stand out as versatile defenders capable of guarding forwards.
The team is rather small in the backcourt with the 6-foot-2 Brunson, 6-foot-2 McBride and 6-foot-4 DiVincenzo. If one of their wing defenders goes down due to injury, it could lead to even smaller lineups. Also, the Knicks are going to need more from Randle, who has been apathetic at times on defense.
Robinson is an imposing defensive force in the paint, but one concern will be how the Knicks have him on the floor against teams with three-point shooting big men. Contenders in the East such as the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks feature centers like Kristaps Porzingis and Brook Lopez, who excel beyond the arc. Robinson is often reluctant to step out to the three-point line. It could be a challenge the Knicks will have to adjust to.
There are other good defenses around the NBA. Behind the efforts of players like Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels, the Minnesota Timberwolves ranked first last year and have kept together most of its core. The Celtics, Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder also will be in the conversation. With the amount of defensive ability New York has on its roster, a number one defensive ranking is a possibility. A top-five defense seems like a good bet if the season goes as planned.
