The Resurgence of the New York Knicks

The New York Knicks have clinched a winning season for the first time in eight years. They are in the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference as they eye a playoff spot for the first time since 2013.

For the last eight years, the New York Knicks have been a laughingstock in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Underwhelming players, questionable coaching hires and terrible free-agent signings made them become losers. Even with the most loyal fans, the franchise that generates the most revenue, and the most valuable team in the NBA, the Knicks were a joke.

But this year is different. They drafted the 2020 college basketball national player of the year, Obi Tobbin, and found a gem at the end of the first-round of the NBA draft in Immanuel Quickly. They signed veteran free agents Nerlens Noel, Taj Gibson, Alec Burks and Elfrid Payton to one-year deals and traded former most valuable player Derrick Rose. “A whole lot of underrated talent,” explained Knicks’s fan Chris Ballantine.

Julius Randle leads the team. After spending four mediocre seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and a decent season with the New Orleans Pelicans, Randle headed to free agency and signed a three-year $63 million contract with the Knicks.

Randle is averaging 24 points, 10 rebounds and six assists per game on 46 percent shooting from the floor and 41 percent from the three-point line. He made his first all-star team with the Knicks and is looking for his first All-NBA selection as well as his first playoff appearance.

New coach Tom Thibodeau is making his mark with the New York Knicks. He was fired by the Chicago Bulls and the Minnesota Timberwolves, took a year off coaching and was hired during the summer of 2020.

This year the Knicks gave up the fewest points per game (105.1), lowest field goal percentage per game (44.2%), and the lowest three-point percentage per game (33.9%). Last season, the Knicks were 17th in opponents points per game, 16th in field goal percentage, and 28th in three-point percentage. This is the Tom Thibodeau effect.

To start the season, the Knicks had no expectations. They were 29th out of 30th in the power rankings. ESPN Forecast had the Knicks winning 22 games, BPI had them at 17 wins, FiveThirtyEight had them at 23 wins and Caesars had the Knicks winning 22 games.

After 45 games, the Knicks were 23-22, passing their 2020 record at 21-45. The Knicks surpassed all the betting odds, shocked all the analysts and amazed the experts.

After 53 games into the season, the Knicks were 26-27, sitting at the 9th spot in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks then proceeded to go on a 9-game winning streak, which shocked the NBA. Every week the Knicks climbed the power rankings, finishing as high as 10th. In an April 22 tweet, Lebron James said, “And the league is simply better off when the Knicks are winning.”

The Knicks are 34-27, a great season so far. Jeffrey Mensah a close friend and a huge Knicks fan said, “The Knicks showed this season that they have a lot of potential incoming. Especially with the great defense they are playing we could soon be a title contender in the future.”

On April 5, the Knicks took on the Brooklyn Nets, their crosstown rival. This was the first time the Knicks played against Brooklyn’s “big three,” which included Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden.

When asked about their “big three,” Knicks guard Reggie Bullock said, “We’re not really concerned about their Big Three. We know what type of basketball we will be able to come into the game and play. We will focus on our team. We got a Big Five.” Randle added, “We got a big 15.”