Knicks Officially Enter the Off-Season: What Worked, What Didn’t, and What’s Next

A resilient Knicks team reached their first Eastern Conference Finals since 2000, powered by Jalen Brunson’s heroics and relentless team rebounding, but critical flaws and a thin rotation cost them a true shot at the Finals. What should they focus on next?

Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks

After a dramatic playoff run that saw the New York Knicks reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in a quarter-century, the curtain has officially fallen on their 2024-25 campaign. While the season brought flashes of brilliance, breakout performances, and renewed hope to Madison Square Garden, it also exposed flaws that ultimately ended their quest for a championship. Now, as the Knicks shift their focus to the off-season, it’s time to take a closer look at what powered their success, where things unraveled, and what lies ahead for a team determined to take the next step.

WHAT CLICKED FOR THE 2024-25 KNICKS?

1. Third Seed and Return to the ECF (Since 2000)

The Knicks finished the season with a 51-31 record, earning the third seed in the Eastern Conference. That in itself was an impressive accomplishment, especially considering the wave of injuries and roster instability they endured. Jalen Brunson spent time recovering from an ankle injury in April, while Mitchell Robinson missed the majority of the regular season following ankle surgery from the previous summer. Josh Hart was also managing a knee issue around the same time as Brunson, Miles McBride dealt with a groin injury, and Cameron Payne was sidelined with an ankle sprain. Ariel Hukporti, who had shown promise as a depth piece, was ruled out for 4-6 weeks in February due to a knee injury.

The regular season was defined by gritty, low-scoring wins, as New York ranked top five in defensive efficiency. In the playoffs, they dispatched the Detroit Pistons (4-2), then toppled the reigning champion Boston Celtics in six games, before being eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals (108-125). However, making the ECF for the first time in 25 years is no small feat, especially after decades of disappointment. While the Finals dream (and a possible showdown with OKC) slipped away, this deep run revived hope and raised the bar at MSG.

2. Jalen Brunson: The Heartbeat and NBA Clutch Player of the Year

Brunson delivered a season for the ages: 26.0 points, 7.3 assists, and 2.9 rebounds on 48.8% shooting from the field and 38.3% from three. He was named the NBA Clutch Player of the Year after the 2024-2025 season, and also finished among the top three in postseason scoring, averaging 30.1 points per game.

Brunson’s signature moments came in Game 6 against the Pistons, where he scored 40 points, and in Game 4 against the Celtics, where his 39-point performance helped secure a crucial win on the road. He later sealed the Knicks’ berth in the Eastern Conference Finals with another standout showing in Game 6 against Boston. Even with Indiana throwing multiple defenders at him, he still averaged 22.3 points and 7.3 assists in the series, including a 43-point, five-assist performance in Game 1 despite the loss.

According to ESPN, Brunson led the league in clutch scoring, amassing 156 points with a 51.5% field goal percentage in clutch situations (defined as the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime when the score is within five points).

Additionally, Brunson averaged an NBA-high of 5.6 points in clutch situations, led the league with 52 clutch field goals made, and ranked third with 28 clutch assists.

These statistics highlight Brunson's exceptional performance in high-pressure moments, underscoring his value to the New York Knicks during the 2024-25 season.

3. Mitchell Robinson’s Post-Surgery Impact

Robinson’s return midway through the season was transformative for the Knicks. Despite limited minutes in the regular season, his impact was immediately felt through his elite rim protection and relentless offensive rebounding, which helped anchor the paint and extend possessions. In the playoffs, he averaged 7.1 rebounds, 3.7 of which came on the offensive glass, along with 0.8 blocks and 4.7 points per game. Even in the Game 5 loss against Boston, his 13 rebounds were a key contribution.

Aside from that, Mitch showed flashes of brilliance by being aggressive with the ball in the paint, unafraid to use his strength to post up defenders, and finishing countless times with powerful dunks, often catching alley-oops at just the right time from his Knicks teammates.

Could we be any more prouder of the Blockness Monster?

4. OG Anunoby: Two-Way Game Changer

OG, acquired back in December of 2023, averaged 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in the regular season. In the playoffs, his defense became essential, he guarded stars like Tatum, Haliburton, and Siakam, holding each below their averages. Offensively, he averaged 15.9 points in the postseason and often slashed to the rim with force.

A standout statistic from OG Anunoby's 2025 playoff performance is his defensive impact, particularly in generating turnovers. Over 18 postseason games, Anunoby averaged 2.0 steals per game, ranking him among the top defenders in the playoffs. His consistent ability to disrupt opposing offenses underscores his vital role in the New York Knicks' defensive schemes during their playoff run.

5. Karl-Anthony Towns: Offensive Firepower

Towns gave New York a stretch five unlike anything the team has had in decades, averaging 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists while shooting 52.6% from the field and 42.0% from three during the regular season. His offensive skill set opened lanes for Brunson and punished bigs who sat in drop coverage. His game was defined by physical drives into the paint, sizing up defenders, spin moves, and tough contested shots, including deep threes that typically sent the crowd into a wild frenzy.

Game 3 against Indiana was his magnum opus: he finished with 24 points and 15 rebounds, including 20 points in the fourth quarter alone. He recorded a dozen games with 20+ points in the playoffs, with his face-up game and pick-and-pop shooting often carrying New York’s offense.

6. Bench Production: McBride, Shamet, Wright

The bench found life late. Deuce averaged 5.8 points and 1.0 assist in the playoffs, including 11 points with three triples in Game 5 against Boston. As for Landry Shamet, he shot 46.7% from three in the playoffs and provided exceptional defense as well. Delon Wright brought defense and effort, giving the starters a much-needed breather when they needed it most.

When McBride, Shamet, and Wright shared the floor during the last five games of the Indiana series, the Knicks recorded a +2.4 net rating in the playoffs, according to NBA stats. Their collective second-unit generated transition opportunities, while Deuce’s shooting provided a much-needed spark offensively.

7. Offensive Glass: Hart, Towns, Robinson

New York ranked fifth in the league during the regular season with an offensive rebound rate of 30.5%, and they elevated that mark to 33.0% in the playoffs, which ranked third, according to NBA stats.

This was all thanks to the Knicks' front three rebounding leaders: Josh Hart, who averaged 2.4 offensive rebounds per game and grabbed at least 10 boards in nine postseason games; Towns, who added 2.1; and Robinson, who led the group with 3.7 (as mentioned before), consistently punishing smaller teams in the playoffs. Although Hart’s performance slowed near the end of the postseason, especially during the Indiana series, he played a crucial role in helping the Knicks secure their first Eastern Conference Finals win in 25 years, finishing with 10 rebounds, including one enormously vital board in the final seconds against the Pacers in Game 5 (111-94).

8. Mikal Bridges’ Defensive Consistency

Bridges averaged 1.7 steals per game and hounded top wings throughout the postseason. Notably, Bridges, alongside OG Anunoby, achieved a 96.6 defensive rating in clutch situations during the 2025 playoffs, the best among any duo in the NBA. His length and anticipation made him a vital defensive piece, even when his own shot wasn’t falling. Therefore, Bridges increased his defensive contributions during the postseason, particularly in steals (from 0.9 in the regular season to 1.7 in the postseason) and blocks (from 0.5 in the regular season to 0.9 in the postseason), reflecting a heightened defensive effort during high-stakes games.

WHAT THEY COULD’VE DONE BETTER

1. Transition Defense

New York ranked 10th in opponent fast break points (FBP) allowed during the season, giving up 14.5 per game. This issue became even more evident in several playoff games where the Knicks struggled in transition:

• Game 1 vs. Indiana: Indiana recorded 13 FBP, while New York had just 5

• Game 2 vs. Indiana: Indiana posted 14 FBP to New York’s 7

• Game 3 vs. Indiana: Indiana totaled 22 FBP, compared to the Knicks’ 9

• Game 6 vs. Indiana: Indiana scored 25 FBP, while New York managed only 10

• Game 3 vs. Boston: Boston registered 18 FBP, while New York finished with 8

2. Coach Thibodeau’s Rotations & Trust in the Bench

Despite the bench’s strong net ratings, Knicks Coach Tom Thibodeau was slow to trust them. In the postseason, the bench averaged just 9.26 minutes per game, often coming in only after the team was down by double digits. To show just how much this hurt the Knicks, in Game 4 against Indiana, the bench didn’t see meaningful minutes until late, with the starters already exhausted. This led to a late-game collapse, a missed comeback opportunity, and ultimately a loss (121-130) that put the Knicks on the brink of elimination.

A closer look at the second unit's postseason average minutes (excluding Mitchell Robinson and Josh Hart, who have alternated between starting and bench roles):

• Miles McBride: 18.9 minutes per game

• Cameron Payne: 7.3 minutes per game

• Precious Achiuwa: 4.6 minutes per game

• Landry Shamet: 7.5 minutes per game

• Delon Wright: 8.0 minutes per game

3. Turnovers: A Critical Issue

The Knicks averaged 13.3 turnovers (TOs) per game in the regular season and 13.8 per game in the postseason. These kinds of mistakes often lead to easy transition points for opponents, which is already an area that the Knicks struggle in (as mentioned earlier: 1. Transition Defense), and they erase any momentum that the team tries to build.

And unfortunately for New York, these turnovers have happened more than once throughout the playoffs:

• Game 2 vs. Detroit: 14 TOs

• Game 5 vs. Detroit: 15 TOs

• Game 6 vs. Detroit: 16 TOs

• Game 2 vs. Boston: 15 TOs

• Game 6 vs. Boston: 15 TOs

• Game 1 vs. Indiana: 15 TOs

• Game 3 vs. Indiana: 14 TOs

• Game 4 vs. Indiana: 17 TOs

• Game 5 vs. Indiana: 15 TOs

• Game 6 vs. Indiana: 17 TOs

4. Foul Trouble, Especially Towns

It’s a no-brainer that foul trouble is costly for any team. More specifically, New York ranked seventh in the league with 17.8 personal fouls (PFs) per game during their 2024-2025 campaign. Ouch.

And I know for a fact one specific name comes to mind when it comes to foul trouble in the postseason. Karl-Anthony Towns.

Towns averaged 4.3 fouls per game in the playoffs. That’s a tough read, I know. These fouls allowed opponents to attack the rim and swing the momentum. But wait, let’s take a closer look at just how deep in foul trouble KAT found himself during the postseason:

• Game 6 vs. Indiana: 4 PFs

• Game 5 vs. Indiana: 5 PFs

• Game 4 vs. Indiana: 4 PFs

• Game 3 vs. Indiana: 5 PFs

• Game 1 vs. Indiana: 4 PFs

• Game 6 vs. Boston: 4 PFs

• Game 5 vs. Boston: 4 PFs

• Game 4 vs. Boston: 5 PFs

• Game 3 vs. Boston: 4 PFs

• Game 2 vs. Boston: 4 PFs

• Game 1 vs. Boston: 5 PFs

• Game 6 vs. Detroit: 6 PFs (FOULED OUT)

• Game 5 vs. Detroit: 5 PFs

• Game 4 vs. Detroit: 5 PFs

• Game 3 vs. Detroit: 4 PFs

• Game 2 vs. Detroit: 4 PFs

5. Free Throw Woes, Especially in Big Moments

The Knicks shot a solid 80% from the free throw line during the regular season, but that dropped to 76.0% in the playoffs, according to NBA Stats. Missed free throws came back to haunt them in crunch time:

• Game 1 vs. Indiana: Went 28/40 from the line in a game that ended in an overtime loss

• Game 5 vs. Indiana: Made just 15/22 free throws, though they still managed to win

• Game 3 vs. Boston: Finished 24/35 from the line in a game that ended in a loss

• Game 6 vs. Indiana: Made just 17/26 free throws in an ECF elimination game

6. Building and Maintaining Leads / Slow Starts

The Knicks ranked right in the middle of the league, sitting 15th in first-quarter scoring with 28.3 points per game. But too often, early leads slipped away and momentum vanished:

• Game 1 vs. Indiana: Blew a 17-point lead, and lost

• Game 2 vs. Detroit: Led by 14 in the second quarter, and nearly lost

• Game 4 vs. Detroit: Led by 16 in the second quarter, and nearly lost

• Game 6 vs. Detroit: Led by 15 in the second quarter, and nearly lost

7. Better Shot Selection & Playing the Hot Hand

The Knicks leaned on isolation for Brunson to shoot the three-ball too often and didn’t always ride the hot hand. For example, in Game 1 against Indiana, McBride was hot early and played 25 minutes, but was overshadowed by Josh Hart down the stretch. Hart played a heavy 44 minutes, and the defense stalled as he picked up four fouls.

8. Defensive Switching / Communication

During the 2024-2025 playoffs, opponents averaged 18.5 points per game on shots made from less than eight feet against the Knicks, according to NBA Stats. This not only points to weak defense, but also highlights New York’s ongoing communication issues when switching assignments. And I know it’s easy to pin the blame on Towns, but this responsibility falls on everyone on the team, not just him.

9. Mikal Bridges’ Offensive Gaps vs. Top Teams

Bridges averaged 17.6 points per game on 50.0% shooting from the field during the regular season, but that efficiency took a major hit against elite competition. In 10 regular season games against the top three seeds in the league (Cleveland, Boston, and Oklahoma), he averaged just 13.7 points on 27.3% three-point shooting, per StatMuse.

While he came up with some big defensive plays late in postseason games, he too often missed wide open threes, mid-range shots that are typically his go-to, and even layups. On top of that, he consistently hesitated to drive into the paint and draw contact. If Bridges wants to take the next step next season, he will need to improve his shooting and develop the confidence to attack the rim, which could also create more free throw opportunities for the team.

10. Josh Hart’s Playoff Regression and Hesitancy

Hart, who averaged 13.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 5.9 assists on 52.5% shooting from the field during the regular season, unfortunately shrank in the playoffs. His confidence in shooting the three-ball noticeably declined, especially in the Indiana series where he attempted just nine threes across five games. This put Coach Tom Thibodeau in a difficult position, eventually leading him to replace Hart in the starting lineup with Mitchell Robinson, who was performing well in the postseason, particularly in the double-big lineup. Hart also committed five costly turnovers and fouled out in Game 4 against Indiana, adding to the team’s struggles.

All in all, his reluctance to shoot allowed defenders to sag, and turnovers mounted in crucial games.

11. Offensive Consistency: Over-reliance on Brunson/Towns

Brunson and Towns accounted for 49% of the Knicks’ scoring in the playoffs, nearly half of the team’s total points. That being said, in games where one struggled or got into foul trouble, the offense stalled. In games where both players scored 20 or more points, the Knicks had a strong winning record. Conversely, in regular season games where either player scored below 20 points, the team’s performance tended to decline.

This pattern underscores the critical role that Brunson and Towns played in the Knicks' postseason success, and also highlights just how much more consistent offensive contributions are needed from the rest of the team.

OFF-SEASON TO-DO LIST: TRUST THE SECOND-UNIT, EXPAND THE BENCH, EXPLORE TRADES, BUILD A MORE COMPLETE OFFENSE

1. Rotations & Bench Trust

Simply put, Coach Tom Thibodeau must stick to a consistent bench rotation. This means trusting McBride, Shamet, and Wright on a regular basis. Giving the bench more minutes during the regular season will especially help keep the core fresh for the playoffs. And you cannot say otherwise, because the proof is in the pudding as shown by their positive net rating.

2. Add Bench Scoring and Depth by Trading Payne and Achiuwa

Two things are for sure. It’s time to move on from Cameron Payne, who averaged just 2.1 points and 0.6 assists on 32.4% shooting from the field and 23.8% from three during the postseason, and Precious Achiuwa, who averaged 1.8 disappointing points, 1.1 rebounds, and zero assists during the playoffs. Both failed to establish positive roles. Payne’s inconsistent shooting and defense were clear liabilities, and despite his limited minutes, he still averaged 1.6 fouls per game. At times, he would check in and immediately pick up at least two fouls. Achiuwa, on the other hand, struggled with unreliable hands and poor defensive reads.

As for a trade package, Payne and Achiuwa could be replaced with a more reliable bench playmaker, shooter, and/or rim-protector. That kind of addition can be a key piece for Deuce McBride’s development and would help keep the offense organized when Brunson is off the floor.

Free agent/trade targets who fit the Knicks’ needs:

Potential Guards to look into:

• Malcolm Brogdon (realistic trade target)

• Bruce Brown (would be a great addition to the rotation)

• Nicolas Batum (also a realistic option)

• Nickeil Alexander-Walker (most likely unaffordable, but would be a valuable asset)

Potential Cs to look into:

• Andre Drummond

• Clint Capela

• Steven Adams

Bringing in any of these players would allow Deuce McBride to play more off the ball, which would maximize his spot-up shooting and on-ball defense. I’ll also be going more in depth on each of these potential Knicks trade targets or free agent pickups in a future article (hint, hint).

3. Offensive Creativity: More Than Just Iso-Ball

The Knicks must diversify the offense. Adding more motion sets, off-ball screens, cutting, and pick and roll variations would help reduce predictability. Practices should encourage ball movement, with everyone getting touches in half-court sets. In turn, this would help build confidence for players like Hart, Bridges, and the bench shooters.

4. Improve Communication and Spacing

Better spacing is a must. Too often, the lane was clogged by non-shooters. Cutting, relocating, and making “one-more" passes should be emphasized in drills, especially for Hart and Bridges. This will help maximize Towns’ shooting and Robinson’s offensive rebounding, while preventing opposing defenses from packing the paint.

5. Free Throw Focus and Late-Game Execution

Dedicate off-season sessions to free throw pressure drills and simulated late-game situations. Hart (78.1% from the line during the postseason), Bridges (71.4% from the line during the postseason), and especially Robinson (39.3% from the line during the postseason) must focus on their mechanics and routines to turn what was a postseason weakness into a strength for next season and beyond. This goes beyond just the simplicity of free throw shooting, because more often than not, if the Knicks had made their free throws, they could have won games more comfortably or even won games they ended up losing.

6. Defensive Switching and Perimeter Containment

The Knicks must improve communication on switches and closeouts. Practice “scramble” scenarios and borrow concepts from Boston/Miami’s perimeter schemes, focusing on helping, rotating, and trusting teammates. Limiting wide-open threes will be key in future playoff runs.

Final Thoughts on the 2024-2025 Knicks:

The Knicks' 2024-2025 season was a rollercoaster filled with pride, progress, and painful lessons. They returned to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years, saw Jalen Brunson blossom into one of the league’s top clutch performers, and finally felt what it’s like to be in serious contention.

But the flaws were impossible to ignore.

A lack of bench trust, inconsistent shot selection, defensive lapses, and over-reliance on their stars cost them a shot at the Finals. The blueprint for taking the next step is right in front of them. Build a deeper rotation. Diversify the offense. Develop habits that withstand playoff pressure.

This team already has the heart. Now it’s time to fine-tune the rest. The window is open, and if the Knicks want to make even more noise next year, the work starts now.