Knicks Named Top 5 Most Improved Team

The New York Knicks have made changes for the better this season.

Jeremy Brener | Jul 30, 2024

Jan 18, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau high fives New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) with guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) and forward OG Anunoby (8) and guard Jalen Brunson (11) during the first quarter against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

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New York Knicks

The New York Knicks are eyeing the top spot in the Eastern Conference for the 2024-25 season, and they have made some moves in order to try and get them there in the offseason.

Trading for Mikal Bridges and re-signing OG Anunoby and Jalen Brunson are signs that the Knicks are ready to compete in the upcoming season.

Bleacher Report writer Greg Swartz believes that the Knicks are one of the five most improved teams this offseason.

"We saw glimpses of what this team could become, as the three-man unit of Brunson, [Julius] Randle and Anunoby registered a net rating of plus-26.1 (100th percentile, via Cleaning the Glass) in their 582 possessions together," Swartz writes. "Losing Isaiah Hartenstein hurts, although getting Bridges, re-signing Anunoby and adding some nice pieces around the edges will have the Knicks competing for the No. 1 spot in the East."

The Knicks' biggest enemy for the upcoming season may be themselves. They will have to adjust to their new pieces and to life without Hartenstein, but there's reason to believe the learning curve may not be so steep. Bridges played with Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo in college while Mitchell Robinson is the longest-tenured member of the roster. It isn't like these players have to start from scratch to learn how to play with one another.

On top of that, injuries slowed the Knicks down tremendously last season. Even in a year where they lost Randle in the middle of the season and only had Anunoby for about a quarter of their regular season games, they still managed to win 50 games. If they find a way to stay healthy, that number could be a lot higher.

Of course, the Boston Celtics are probably the biggest external challenge for the Knicks, but there hasn't been a repeat champion since 2017-18, so they could be due for a slide down the standings.

Ultimately, the Knicks are doing almost everything in their power to be the best version of themselves for the upcoming season.

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

Published Jul 30, 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.