Analyst Believes in Knicks Lofty Goals

The New York Knicks could be looking at a championship-contending season.

Jeremy Brener | Sep 3, 2024

Jan 2, 2023; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) warms up prior to the game against the Phoenix Suns at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports / Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

In this story:

New York Knicks

It's been 51 years since the New York Knicks hoisted the Larry O'Brien Trophy and won the NBA championship.

They have come close to ending that drought a few times over the years, including NBA Finals berths in 1994 and 1999, but the Knicks have yet to come out on top in over half a century.

However, the Knicks may not be better suited for a championship run than they are right now, according to NBA.com writer Shaun Powell.

"Has it been more than five decades since the last parade down Broadway? This franchise since then dealt with heartbreak, years of bad management and prime Michael Jordan. The Knicks have progressed from one H-word — hell — to another — hope," Powell writes. "A championship is a realistic goal for a team built to win. Brunson, Randle, Anunoby, Bridges, Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo, Miles McBride … there’s depth, defense and an ability to excel in both half-court and up-tempo. The Knicks could very well be Boston’s biggest threat in the East."

The Boston Celtics are the defending champions and arguably the top rival for the Knicks going into the season, but New York has a chance to challenge the top dog in the conference.

The addition of Mikal Bridges should complement the other players on the roster tremendously, and his history of good health should keep him available for a deep playoff run, which was an issue for the Knicks this past season.

If the Knicks were healthy in the spring, they may have given the Celtics a run for their money in the Eastern Conference Finals. Now, this team has made the biggest strides in the Eastern Conference, and things look promising if they can keep the momentum going and stay on the court for the long season.

Make sure you bookmark New York Knicks on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

Published Sep 3, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.