Josh Hart didn’t sugarcoat his feelings after the Knicks’ loss to the Pistons. “We’re losing games I feel like we shouldn’t be losing,” he shared, echoing what fans might be muttering under their breath. On the surface, the Jalen Brunson-led Knicks seemed to do everything right. They poured in 119 points, knocked down 50% of their shots, and connected on 40% of their threes. To top it off, they earned 11 more trips to the free-throw line than Detroit. Those numbers sound like a winning formula, don’t they?

Yet, when the final buzzer sounded, none of it mattered. While it may seem like the Knicks are massively underperforming, that’s not the case. They’re actually sitting at 26-15, their best record under Tom Thibodeau at this stage of the season. But Brunson thinks this isn’t enough, just like Hart.

A visibly upset Brunson said, “We’ve gotten better but there’s still a long way to go. Continue to have the mindset of getting better every day. It’s the same, no matter what game it is. It could be game 82. Our mindset’s still to get better”. Is Brunson targeting some with his mindset comment here? Well, something happened during the game.

In a critical moment, Brunson signaled OG Anunoby to switch and take on Cade Cunningham, but Anunoby ignored him, locking eyes with Brunson as if the request didn’t matter. Josh Hart’s frustration? Yeah, it was written all over his face—again. Even after their previous match, Brunson had said, “We have to go out there with no egos. We have to go out there with no individual agendas. We have to go out there and sacrifice.”.

It feels like something is wrong in the Knicks’ locker room but we can’t say for sure. The Knicks may have trouble in the locker room but their front office has done some work in handing out contracts.

Jalen Brunson makes it to ESPN’s All-Contract team

Leon Rose has been a magician at finding hidden gems and locking in talent on affordable deals. ESPN recently spotlighted their All-Contract team, which highlights players on the best-value contracts outside of rookie and max deals. Leading the charge? None other than Jalen Brunson. At just $24.9 million this season, Brunson is one of the best bargains in the league.

Before this season, he inked a four-year, $156.5 million extension, even leaving $113 million on the table to keep the Knicks flexible. That’s loyalty. Brunson’s putting up 25.5 points and a career-high 7.5 assists per game, proving he’s worth every penny. Remember last year’s playoffs? He carried the team until a broken hand ended his run.

Deuce McBride also snagged a spot on ESPN’s list as a backup shooting guard. After the Knicks traded RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley for OG Anunoby, McBride stepped up, signing a $13 million, three-year deal. At $4.7 million this year, he’s delivering 9.5 points and his signature relentless defense.

These budget-friendly contracts have paved the way for big moves, like adding OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns. Sitting at 26-14, the Knicks are working to shake off a rough 1-4 patch. It feels like they’re just getting started