Knicks’ critical weakness that could jeopardize their chances for the 2025 NBA championship.
The New York Knicks made significant progress toward competing for the NBA Finals in the 2023-24 season, and at times, they seemed like the top team in the Eastern Conference. However, their momentum faltered in the playoffs, resulting in an exit in the Eastern Conference semifinals at the hands of the Indiana Pacers.
The Knicks made substantial changes in the offseason by acquiring Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns. While these signings significantly strengthened their roster, they did not address their most critical weakness, which has been an ongoing issue since the Carmelo Anthony era.
Despite the optimism surrounding the team, their season began poorly with a 23-point blowout loss to the defending champion Boston Celtics. Given this context, let’s examine the Knicks’ most significant weakness and what the front office needs to do to resolve it. If this issue isn’t addressed, it could jeopardize the team’s chances of winning the Larry O’Brien Trophy by the end of the season.
The Knicks are in need of an additional playmaker.
The Knicks should look to add a playmaking initiator who can generate offense for himself or others from the guard or wing positions. Currently, Jalen Brunson is the only player on the roster with this ability. He typically initiates the offense on nearly every possession, setting the stage for both his teammates and himself.
While many teams would be envious of having a creator like Brunson, the Knicks aim to be more than just any team—they want to compete for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. To succeed at the highest level, they need at least one more player who can step up and create when plays break down.
If Tom Thibodeau’s squad becomes too reliant on Brunson, defenses will focus on him, complicating matters for the team. This could diminish Brunson’s efficiency, and if the Knicks can’t punish opponents for overcommitting to contain him, the double and triple teams will persist.
If the Knicks can strengthen their playmaking by bringing in another perimeter creator to pair with Brunson, they could emerge as favorites to win it all this year. This addition would require defenses to adjust their strategies, dividing their attention between Brunson and the new player.
Having another playmaker alongside Brunson would enhance the effectiveness of both, alleviating individual pressure on each. This is how the Knicks could transform into an offensive powerhouse this season.
Karl-Anthony Towns is a better fit than Julius Randle, but he isn’t the solution the Knicks need.
The Knicks secured a superstar big man in Towns through a surprising blockbuster trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves late in the offseason, which involved sending Julius Randle away.
During his time in New York, Randle was a skilled but inefficient scorer at both power forward and center. Although he could play both positions, he struggled to create his own offense, as efficient perimeter initiation wasn’t his strength.
Randle was never the most adept ball handler, often putting himself in difficult situations that led to turnovers when he attempted complex dribble moves or tried to take a defender one-on-one to drive to the basket.
In these attempts, he frequently lost the ball, whether by dribbling out of bounds or being too reckless, allowing defenders to reach in and strip it away.
