Blue and Orange on the Rise: Knicks Hit Their Early Stride

The Knicks are finally finding their groove, and with each game, the league is starting to take notice.

After a deep playoff run last season and a roster that was awaiting to be revamped, the Knicks kicked off their 2025-26 campaign with high expectations. Twelve games in, and they currently sit at 8-4, holding a strong position near the top of the Eastern Conference as the second seed. The early signs are encouraging: starters are hitting their stride, the bench is starting to contribute in meaningful ways, and the rotations under coach Mike Brown are beginning to take shape. Let’s dive into how different pieces, from the marquee names to the unsung contributors, are starting to click.

Starter Unit: Flowing Offense, Defined Roles

At the core of the men in blue and orange, Jalen Brunson continues to run the offense with poise and precision. Typical, I know. But, what’s not to like? Despite sustaining an unfortunate ankle injury last Wednesday against the Orlando Magic, we’re hopeful he’ll make his return as soon as he can since it is still quite early in the season. Other than that, his ability to make difficult shots from beyond the arc, his dominant turnaround fadeaways against bigs, his relentless efforts as he carries the captain’s role on his jersey, his fearless takes, and his ability to generate looks for others and dictate pace all help everything else fall into place. And the best part of it all? Those numbers have vaulted him to a whopping ninth in points per game (28.0), paired with 6.5 assists to round out his impact.

On the wings, Mikal Bridges is producing around 15.6 points per game, shooting roughly 52.0% overall and 45.0% from deep. This is a BIG improvement since last season and a huge plus for spacing and two-way versatility. Meanwhile, OG Anunoby is providing that dependable wing presence: about 17.1 points per game, 5.8 rebounds and 2.1 steals in recent games, with a three-point efficiency of 39.7%. His ability to spot up, knock down corner shots, and defend with precision is exactly what gives the starters the balance they need.

In the front court, Karl‑Anthony Towns is settling fully into the back-to-the-basket role the organization envisioned. He’s averaging 20.7 points and 12.7 rebounds (third in the league) in his recent stretch, shooting about 42.9% from the field. His interior presence opens driving lanes and gives the team a reliable post option. With these five, the roles are clear and the team’s chemistry and loud energy are showing, and that’s not something that happens overnight.

His recent scoring outburst against the Heat just proved just how talented he is offensivly.

Bench & Role Players: Clarkson, Shamet, McBride and the Depth Factor

A team can’t sustain a run without a bench that contributes. And here, the Knicks’ improvements are louder than ever now that they’ve finally added much-needed key pieces to their second unit.

Jordan Clarkson has been a key addition off the bench. Through the first 12 games he’s averaging roughly 10.3 points per game, shooting about 46.8% from the floor and 38% from the triple. His minutes are limited (17.3 per game) but his scoring punch when called upon supplies that second-unit instant offense that the Knicks lacked in past seasons.

Landry Shamet is making good on the spacing role. In about 19.2 minutes a game he’s around 10.0 points per outing while shooting 44% from deep. Currently, he’s in the starting lineup in place of Josh Hart, who has been dealing with nerve damage in his shooting hand. His jumper has given the first unit credibility and has allowed Coach Brown to rest starters without sacrificing shot-making. In a league where three-point threat matters, his contributions matter.

Landry Shamet just had a career night vs. the Miami Heat that proved why he is so valuable to the Knicks. (36 PTS on 6 made triples)

Then there’s Miles McBride. He may not be the star of the show, but his development is worth tracking. He’s tallying 8.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game so far this season, with a 39.4% field goal percentage and 40.9% from three. What makes Deuce particularly intriguing is the chemistry he shares with Clarkson when it is time for the bench to check in, and how seamlessly they complement one another. While Clarkson brings scoring off the dribble, Deuce’s role is more about movement, catch-and-shoot, and giving the bench unit another capable guard. When those two share time on the court, the Knicks’ offense doesn’t skip a beat.

Another key bench presence is Josh Hart. Despite being injured as mentioned earlier, he’s been outstanding. He currently averages 8.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists in about 23.8 minutes per game in recent games. While his three-point shooting remains a work in progress (33.3%), he’s shown far less hesitancy to pull the trigger compared to last season, and that alone is meaningful. He’s also been more assertive overall, continuing to contribute on the boards, in hustle situations, and in transition, giving the team plenty to feed off.

His recent triple-double against the Heat demonstrated his value, even coming off the bench.

Overall, the bench is something Knicks fans can genuinely get excited about, as they finally have a fun second unit that can score and hold things down when the first unit needs a break. And with Clarkson, Shamet, and McBride each carving out defined roles, the rotation now has more life and balance than ever.

Coach Brown’s Rotation Blueprint: Establishing Identity

What stands out this season is how coach Mike Brown has approached rotations. He’s grouped the starters and bench differently than previous years, giving each unit its own identity. The starters run the half-court execution, the bench runs faster, shoots more threes, and thrives in change-of-pace situations. The substitution patterns are also smarter: Brown staggers minutes so the team rarely loses rhythm, limiting sudden drop-offs when key guys sit.

For instance, against the Chicago Bulls in an early victory (128-116) the Knicks connected on 20 of 42 threes (47.6%) and used the bench’s shooting burst to separate in the second half. The flow in that game showed exactly what Brown’s aiming for: depth, quality contributors, and role clarity.

More importantly, the rotation isn’t chaotic. It’s deliberate, and the players know their roles. Clarkson and Shamet come in as complementary scorers; McBride brings movement and energy; Hart brings boards and defensive intensity; and hopefully, Guerschon Yabusele starts to get the groove of things like the others. Altogether, that consistency breeds trust and allows the starters to rest without the team shuddering. 

Early Results & Momentum Building

At 8-4 after 12 games, the Knicks are clearly ahead of many preseason expectations and hovering near the top of the East. The team is scoring around 120.5 points per game, assisting on approximately 27.3 shots per contest, converting around 45.9% of their field-goals, and biting 37.9% from three as of now. Based on these numbers, their high assist rate suggests that the ball is moving profoundly, their shots aren’t stagnant, and the offense is functioning as a system rather than relying purely on individual creation. And that’s exactly what they’ve been putting on display on TV.

Notable wins include their five in a row wins against the Chicago Bulls (128-116), the Washington Wizards (119-102), the Minnesota Timberwolves (137-114), the Brooklyn Nets (134-98), the Memphis Grizzlies (133-120). They had a hiccup against the Magic, but bounced back against the Miami Heat (140-132). The depth and rotation has been holding up, and the bench survived key stretches. These aren’t flukes, they’re evidence of a team building monthly momentum rather than just early-season spark. 

What to Keep an Eye On

Even with their strong start, there are still a few areas that the Knicks need to look out for:

• Bench consistency: Clarkson, Shamet and McBride must deliver consistently. Especially Yabusele, who especially needs to step up his role. The bench must not only hold leads but occasionally extend them. When it falters, the starters still carry a heavy load on their backs.

  
  

• Injuries (Brunson, Anuonby)

• Towns’ foul trouble: While his scoring and rebounding are impressive, foul trouble is still an issue, a carryover from last season. Averaging 3.8 personal fouls per game, he needs to be less physical and more disciplined on defense.

• Rotation fine-tuning: Brown’s system is finding stability, but knowing who should lead at the right time is key. With JB sidelined and Hart not fully healthy, the upcoming games will put the Knicks’ bench and Brown’s decision-making to the test.

Final Notes

This isn’t just a promising start, it’s a statement. The Knicks look like a team with hunger in their eyes, purpose in their movement, and depth and flexibility in their strides. With Brunson typically orchestrating, Bridges and Anunoby pulling wings, Towns anchoring the bigs, Hart demonstrating more confidence in his shooting form, and Clarkson-Shamet-McBride forming a functional bench trio, the Knicks are beginning to hit rhythm on multiple fronts. Coach Brown’s blueprint is taking shape, and the early results back up the talk. 

If the bench remains credible, the starters stay mostly healthy or return to full health, and the defensive intensity deepens, this Knicks team might not only find its groove; they could come fight the Detroit Pistons for the first seed in the East. And for Knicks fans, the tides have turned, what was once hope is now a firestorm of confidence.

Injury Updates:

Jalen Brunson (Ankle DTD)

OG Anunoby (Hamstring, re-evaluated in 2 weeks)