The Knicks enter 2025 with the identical mission they’ve carried for many years: to finish their championship drought and lift a banner to the rafters at Madison Sq. Backyard.
This 12 months, that aim feels extra attainable than it has in a long time.
With a roster brimming with expertise and a system that appears to be hitting its stride, these Knicks could be the closest factor to a real title contender since Patrick Ewing and Allan Houston led New York to the Finals in 1999.
The numbers inform the story of a staff enjoying its finest basketball as the brand new 12 months begins. Additionally they highlight areas for enchancment because the Knicks work to fine-tune their sport in pursuit of greatness.
Right here’s the place the Knicks stand getting into 2025:
18 – WINS SINCE NOV. 14
The Knicks are on fireplace.
Since their 5-6 begin, New York has gone 18-4, trailing solely the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder’s 17-3 document over the identical span. This run contains two separate four-game profitable streaks and the present eight-game surge sparked by a Dec. 15 victory over the Orlando Magic.
The Knicks’ subsequent true take a look at comes on Jan. 3 once they journey to Oklahoma Metropolis to face the Thunder, the highest seed within the Western Convention.
1 – MOST MINUTES PLAYED BY ANY FIVE
Chemistry takes time, and the Knicks have leaned closely on their starters to construct it.
New York’s beginning 5 enters the brand new 12 months having logged a league-leading 561 minutes this season, outpacing the second-place Houston Rockets by 158 minutes.
Solely three different groups — the Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings — have performed their starters collectively for greater than 250 minutes.
This heavy reliance stems from two components: the staff’s lucky string of well being in comparison with final season, and the necessity to combine Karl-Anthony Cities and Mikal Bridges after the Cities deal reshaped the roster halfway in coaching camp.
In these 561 minutes, the Knicks’ starters have outscored opponents by 85 factors, the second-most of any five-man lineup. Of notice: Boston’s first-place beginning 5 of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Vacation, Derrick White and Al Horford has outscored opponents by 88 factors in solely 198 minutes performed throughout 11 video games this season.
21 – BOTTOM 10 IN 3-POINT ATTEMPTS
The Knicks common 36.1 three-point makes an attempt per sport, putting them within the league’s backside 10 (twenty first within the league) for quantity. But, they take advantage of their alternatives, changing 38.8% of these photographs, tying Milwaukee for the second-best proportion within the league.
Whereas the analytics-driven NBA prioritizes three-point capturing, the Knicks have prioritized high quality over amount. With eight gamers who’ve shot 40% or higher from deep in a season, the Knicks may simply improve their makes an attempt with out sacrificing effectivity, however they’ve opted to “let the game tell them what to do” and dictate their shot choice.
Plus jacking threes isn’t a fool-proof success technique: The Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Hornets rank second and third in threes tried per sport, however you possible received’t see both within the playoff hunt. The Golden State Warriors try greater than 41 threes an evening, however they’re struggling to remain above-.500.
The Knicks shouldn’t be within the bottom-10, however they don’t must be top-five both. Placing the suitable stability is most essential.
1 – TOWNS’ LEAGUE-LEADING FOUL COUNT
Cities’ transition to New York has been largely seamless — offensively. The massive man is averaging 24.7 factors and 13.5 rebounds on 55% capturing from the sphere and 44% from three. His presence on the 5 has created chopping lanes for Bridges, Josh Hart, and OG Anunoby, however his 112 private fouls lead the league, a recurring problem for the Knicks’ skinny frontcourt.
The absence of Mitchell Robinson solely compounds this problem. Robinson, recovering from a second surgical procedure to restore a stress fracture in his left ankle, has but to play this season. Treasured Achiuwa has crammed the hole admirably, however the staff wants Cities to remain out of foul hassle whereas Robinson works towards his return.
20 – GAMES VS. LOSING TEAMS
The Knicks have confronted 20 opponents with dropping data of their first 33 video games. They’ve finished what good groups ought to, going 11-1 in these matchups, however questions stay about their capability to persistently carry out in opposition to elite competitors.
New York has misplaced its solely sport in opposition to the Celtics, the East’s high seed. They’ve additionally dropped video games to the Cavaliers, Mavericks and Rockets. Towards the highest 5 seeds in both convention, the Knicks are simply 5-4, and in opposition to Play-In hopefuls seeded 6-11, they’re a middling 7-5.
The Knicks can stuff the win column in opposition to lesser opponents, however they are going to be judged by how they carry out in opposition to their playoff-bound friends.
30 – BENCH SCORING STRUGGLES
New York’s bench ranks useless final in scoring at 20.5 factors per sport. Regardless of the shortage of firepower, the reserves have received their minutes with a league-best defensive ranking of 44.7, contributing to a internet ranking of +38.
Landry Shamet’s return from harm has added a scoring enhance, however the Knicks may use extra firepower or additional double down on protection. Robinson’s return ought to present extra of a paint presence plus the flexibility to additional stagger Cities’ minutes, some with Robinson, and a few serving to enhance a second unit struggling to persistently put the ball within the basket.
535,301 – DOLLARS BENEATH THE 2ND APRON
The Knicks are working on a razor-thin margin, with simply over $500,000 in area beneath their exhausting cap. In reality, they don’t have entry to this area: There aren’t any gamers they’ll signal as free brokers utilizing this room, and they’re prohibited from taking again extra wage than they ship out in a commerce.
But commerce rumors will persist, and Robinson’s $14.3 million wage is a logical chip, given his absence this season and the staff’s fast wants. His potential return, nevertheless, could possibly be the interior improve the Knicks want if he can keep wholesome and supply the rim safety they’ve been lacking.
.528 – STRENTH OF SCHEDULE AHEAD
The Knicks have loved the league’s best schedule up to now, in keeping with ESPN’s Relative P.c Index, however that’s about to vary. Beginning in January, they’ll face the seventh-toughest remaining slate.
Tankathon, an internet site devoted to monitoring groups’ NBA Draft Lottery odds, ranks New York’s remaining schedule as the toughest within the league.
The brand new 12 months begins with a matchup in opposition to the struggling Jazz, however issues intensify rapidly: 10 of January’s 15 video games are in opposition to playoff-caliber opponents. February and March are equally daunting, and the Knicks will play Philadelphia, Cleveland, Atlanta, Phoenix, Boston, Detroit and Cleveland, once more, in April, earlier than ending the common season at Barclays Middle in a matinee finale in opposition to the Nets.
The Knicks might want to show they’ll compete with the league’s finest to solidify their standing as contenders.
1 – STEPS TAKEN AT A TIME
The Knicks are on a roll, however they know higher than to look too far forward. Their focus stays on the duty at hand — each day enchancment, constructing chemistry, profitable video games and addressing their weaknesses.
The numbers present a Knicks staff rolling into 2025. Additionally they present a staff with room to develop if it desires to make good on its promise to ship this metropolis the title is hasn’t seen in additional than half a century.
