The Knicks languished at the bottom of the East just half a decade ago. Fast forward to the present day and the NY side has made the case for topping the Conference! Led by Jalen Brunson and Co., they are closer to winning a title than they ever were since 2000. While they fell to the Pacers in a hard-fought 7-game series this past offseason, there’s NO doubt that the squad will make a similar run next year, if not better. Considering how rapidly the Knicks have established themselves as contenders, an ex-NY star weighed in on Brunson’s $113 million sacrifice.

Stephon Marbury recently talked about Brunson’s contribution off the court. The guard recently signed a 4-year $156 million contract with the Knicks. Had he waited another year, Brunson would’ve been eligible for a 5-year $269 million paycheck. Fans as well as critics praised JB’s decision, allowing the team to introduce other stars to the lineup. “This selfless act has actually propelled him and has put him in a situation from my perspective, put him in a space that is in a space of his own,” Marbury said. If anything, his commitment is unmatched as compared to the rest of the league. So much so that critics are expecting the Knicks to top the East.

Kendrick Perkins, sided with the Knicks to not only top the East but also hold the best record in the league. The Celtics were 14 wins ahead of the second seed last season. But KP is sure of the NY side’s success as he expects them to outperform Boston. “The New York Knicks are going to have the best record, not just in the Eastern Conference, in the entire NBA in the regular season. They’re going to have the best record in the league. I mean, when you think about what big body Brunson did last year, the best player in the Eastern Conference, he’s going to come back on a different mission.”

“Acquiring Mikal Bridges, with Hart and Donte, they’re gonna be ready to play. And Julius Randle also, he’s gonna come back with it on his mind,” Perkins expressed his ‘Bold Take’.

Well, it won’t only be JB, but also guys like Mikal Bridges and Julius Randle will look to make a statement next year. The Knicks missed Randle this past offseason. However, this time, they have Bridges to take care of the scoring. When it comes to the offensive end, they are fully stacked! But what about the defensive end? For the most part, the NY side might struggle to keep up.

Will Jalen Brunson and the Knicks go small-ball next season?

The only area of concern is Isaiah Hartenstein’s replacement. He and OG Anunoby were the defensive powerhouses of the Knicks last year. But after Hartenstein’s departure, Anunoby may just be the team’s only reliable big-man defender. Yes, they do have Mitchell Robinson to experiment with, however, the 7-footer only averaged 24.8 minutes last season. They can try Anunoby and Robinson to take care of the pain on the defensive end. If not, the Knicks should plan to go small-ball, something Tom Thibodeau isn’t used to.

We’ve seen teams like the Warriors dominate in 2022 while rocking a small-ball lineup. If the Knicks can manage to use OG Anunoby along with Robinson when the starting lineup faces a mismatch, they can balance both ends of the floor just fine. The other option would be playing Mitchell for over 30 minutes a game. On the other hand, trading away players won’t be an optimal option for the Knicks this season. They’re already above the first apron and can only trade players with matching salaries.

Other than that, the Knicks are all set to make a noise in the East. Brunson is in the middle of his prime, Bridges will be an additional scorer paired with guys like Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo draining shots from the perimeter. And of course, the return of Julius Randle will play a crucial role in NY’s season. It will be interesting to see whether they can make it out of the East, having done so back in 1999.

What are your thoughts on Jalen Brunson and the Knicks? Do you think they can outperform the Celtics next season? Let us know in the comments.

Feel that you can do with another update from the sport of basketball? Then do check out this recent interview with the up-and-coming Georgia Lady Bulldogs star Asia Avinger.