Ex Golden State Warriors GM Bob Myers Praises New York Knicks' Present and Future
Bob Myers believes that the New York Knicks' immediate future prospects look golden.
Myers would certainly know a thing about golden NBA futures, having recently stepped down from an 11-year tenure as the general manager of the Golden State Warriors. Under his watch, Golden State ended a 40-year championship drought and developed one of the NBA's most durable dynasties, winning four titles between 2015 and 2022.
Having stepped down from the Warriors' perch over the summer, Myers will now serve as an NBA analyst on ESPN. A conference call detailing his new duties painted him as optimistic about what lies ahead at Madison Square Garden, as he enthused by what the triumvirate of president Leon Rose, head coach Tom Thibodeau, and executive vice president William "Worldwide Wes" Wesley have done since taking over in 2020.
“I don’t think anyone would disagree the Knicks are in a much better place (now) than they were prior to Leon, Wes, and Thibodeau showing up," Myers declared, per Ian Begley of SNY. “They’re good and how do they get to great? That’s probably harder than going from bad to good, which they’ve already done. Now, the question is how do you get from the five or four seed to the one or two seed."
New York is fresh off its most lucrative season in a decade, winning 47 games and a playoff series for the first time since 2013. New expectations will likely burden the Knicks as they seek to end lengthier droughts: the team has not partaken in an Eastern Conference Finals since 2000 and it has been 50 years since its second and most recent NBA championship.
When the Knicks tip off the 2023-24 campaign against Boston on Oct. 25, they'll do so with almost the same roster that closed out last season. It's a group headlined by Jalen Brunson and two-time NBA All-Star Julius Randle and several young talents like RJ Barrett, Quentin Grimes, and Immanuel Quickley are expected to take the next step in their respective developments.
Myers believes that the group is in good hands with head coach Tom Thibodeau, who enters his fourth season at the New York helm.
“One thing Thibodeau is great at is he will make sure that you’re getting the most out of what you have,” Myers said. “Some might say, of course, that’s obvious. I think he’s one of the best in the league at getting the most out of his players and the most out of each regular season game."
"He coaches every regular season game like it’s a playoff game. And I think that works well in that market, that kind of effort.”
Talented as Thibodeau's group may be, however, the general consensus is that the Knicks need a little something extra to officially take residence in the Eastern Conference penthouse. The team has hence lingered in the rumor mill for nearly every major star due for a chance of scenery, such as Joel Embiid and Donovan Mitchell.
Playing fantasy basketball is nothing new and perhaps even a time-honored tradition of the Knicks fan experience. Myers, however, says that the work Thibodeau has done alongside Rose and Wesley has made New York a legitimate basketball destination again.
Myers' moves guided the Warriors to four championships between 2015 and 2022
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"There was a time where I felt like people may not have wanted to play in (New York City) and I think that’s changed," Myers said. “I think now you’re looking at murmurings, hearing things, ‘Hey, what about the Knicks?’ The draft capital they have, it’s a realistic thing. It’s not some layperson saying, ‘Well, the Knicks should go get this guy!' Now it’s viable, it’s possible."
"They have what it takes with first-round picks in their cabinet to go do it. They’ve got a lot of good young players on pretty affordable contracts. They’re just another team that you're kind of waiting for the next big thing.”
Like Myers, both Rose and Wesley previously served as player agents, making names for themselves at Creative Artists Agency.
Myers was also sure to compliment the Knicks' subsequently patient approach, one where the biggest acquisition has been Donte DiVincenzo (who spent last season with Myers' de facto farewell tour in Golden State). But he did note that if and when the Knicks find that game-changing move, they better strike while the iron's hot.
"When the one that comes up does, you have to get that deal done, whatever it is," he said. "Whatever you identify as this is the thing that is going to make us great, you just have to make sure that that happens.”
But Myers also encouraged the Knicks not to get sidetracked by shiny objects like superstar box scores forever. While Myers eventually loaded up on legends of the game like Kevin Durant, he hinted that one of the turning points of his tenure was signing Andre Iguodala to a four-year deal in 2013. The tenured veteran became one of the Warriors' stud defenders and earned the 2015 NBA Finals MVP Award for his work on LeBron James in the six-game win over Cleveland.
"You hope you get something that unlocks everyone else or amplifies the rest of your team,” Myers recalled. "I think the Knicks have been patient and at least they haven’t done anything irrational in my mind. They haven’t had a big misstep where you would say, ‘Hey, look they blew it on the wrong guy.’"
"That can set you back for years. So I think there has to be a healthy amount of impatience but not imprudent ... I think that’s what the Knicks are looking at.”
The Knicks will do battle with Myers' former employers twice this season, the first matchup landing on Feb. 29 at MSG. In the meantime, New York faces a preseason road contest on Tuesday night in Boston (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG).
