Have Knicks Become NBA's Villains?

The New York Knicks might live long enough to become the villain of the NBA.

Jeremy Brener | Sep 20, 2024

Feb 3, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) celebrates his three point shot against the Los Angeles Lakers during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

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New York Knicks

The New York Knicks were seen as one of the darlings of the NBA season last year with Jalen Brunson on the rise.

While the Knicks haven't reached the Eastern Conference Finals yet with Brunson aboard, they are now establishing themselves as one of the teams to watch in the league after trading for Mikal Bridges.

By trading for Bridges, the Knicks have reunited him with his collegiate teammates in Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo, who could emerge as one of the league's "villains."

"The New York Knicks continue to collect players from Villanova (otherwise known as the "Villainova" or "Nova" Knicks)," Bleacher Report contributor Eric Pincus writes. "The team was already tough to play against, but adding Mikal Bridges to the core of Wildcats (Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo) should make for a fun season. New York may have some holes (notably at center), but Villanova's tough group of wings and ballhandlers will cause problems for most opponents."

The 'Nova Knicks have definitely all seen their careers grow once arriving in New York, and that could come across a different type of way to opposing fan bases.

However, people don't boo nobodies, so the Knicks entering a "villain era" may be a sign that the team is getting better. For instance, the Golden State Warriors were well-liked before winning a championship. However, once they put a ring on their finger, they turned into the league's top villain, and then went on a mean streak by winning 73 games, signing Kevin Durant and winning two more championships.

The Knicks aren't on that level of villain quite yet, but it all starts with a step in the winning direction, which New York has taken by acquiring Bridges and getting the Villanova band back together.

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

Published Sep 20, 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.