Well, well! The NBA’s summer break is almost over now. Your favorite hoopers are preparing to return and reclaim the throne. Among them, the New York Knicks are likely the hungriest, and you may wonder why. This is because New York hasn’t won a championship in five decades. Therefore, with that desperation fueling them, they’ll be looking to make a statement this season.

But before the regular season kicks off, the teams will play warm-up games to see where they stand. You must be curious to know where and when will the Knickerbockers take their first buckets and against whom. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the preseason schedule of Jalen Brunson & Co.!

Preseason slate for the Knicks could witness some stellar games from Tom Thibodeau’s boys

The countdown for the Knicks’ return has already begun. Their preseason slate will strike off with the Charlotte Hornets on October 6, at 7 pm (ET). Both teams will meet once again at Madison Square Garden on October 15, at 7:30 pm (ET). Yes, all the teams will face off twice, thus increasing the intensity two-fold! Meanwhile, MSG will also welcome the Washington Wizards on October 9, 7:30 pm (ET), and the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 13, 6 pm (ET). Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau is seeing Julius Randle play more minutes at Center, thus assisting their star Jalen Brunson.

We know that Brunson is the focal point for the New York-based team. So, all their trials at the preseason games will add up to make the 28YO’s overall season smoother. Now, coming back to the schedule, the Knicks will play one final preseason away game against the Wizards on October 18, at 7 pm (ET). All the games will be broadcast on MSG Networks and ESPN New York/ESPN. So, watch out as you wouldn’t want to miss the crucial development games of the Knicks.

Last season, the Knicks struggled in an early autumn quartet, finishing with a 1-3 record. They split their game with reigning champions the Boston Celtics but unfortunately lost to both Minnesota and Washington. The Wolves who were the finalists of the Western Conference last year continue to be the favorites. They’re most likely to give the toughest fight to New York. Meanwhile, the H2H regular records of the Knickerbockers say that the team is leading 129 to the Hornets’ 107. But the 100-117 loss against the Wolves seems a bit concerning. However, the hopes remain shining brightly as the 121-105 and 113-109 winning streaks against the Wizards add to the Knicks’ optimism.

Meanwhile, the Knicks are also entrusting their faith in Miles McBride whose offensive stance last season in the preseason games had helped the team quite a lot. But, the key focus will remain on the Brunson-Randle duo followed by OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges taking the stage to help the team win more games in 2024-25.

The Knicks will also face two rebuilding teams from the Southeastern Division, providing opportunities for high-profile 2024 draft picks like Alex Sarr and Tidjane Salaun to make their NBA debuts. Additionally, their visit to Charlotte could mark the unofficial debut of new acquisitions, such as veteran Mikal Bridges and draft pick Pacome Dadiet. Meanwhile, a major offseason rumor turned into reality for the Knickerbockers as they’re about to kick off the regular season with the defending champions as their opponents!

Rumors aren’t rumors anymore because the Knicks will meet the Celtics in their first game of the Regular Season

Once upon a time, a little birdie sang: “Knicks vs Celtics on the opening night! Knicks vs Celtics on the opening night!” Well, the song was considered a rumor until the Regular Season’s schedule was released. And indeed, the NY Knicks are facing the Boston Celtics on October 22, at 7:30 pm (ET). Playing the season opener against the reigning champions will be a tough task. Given the fact that the Knicks weren’t able to defeat Jayson Tatum and Co. in the 2023-24 season.

So, what will be the effective strategy for the Knicks? What is Tom Thibodeau brewing? At this point, when the team has Jalen Brunson at the center of their game, all plans must revolve around him. From Julius Randle’s ball control to Miles McBride’s offensive strikes. The alignment will become crucial to play against the biggest powers of the NBA right now.

The Atlantic Division rivals finished in the top two spots in the Eastern Conference last season. Boston won four of five games against the Knicks, including an extra matchup due to the NBA In-Season Tournament’s results. So, the outcome of last season could be concerning, but history doesn’t need to repeat itself. Therefore, hopes are on the higher side for now.

Interestingly, with a comparatively weaker team, the Knicks are ready to start their 79th season in October. Their fans surely miss the prime era. But who knows what the 2024-25 will look like for the Orange & Blue side. And yes, all of us are looking forward to more development information and seeing what the Knicks would be like in the upcoming season.