The new year starts a little rough for the New York Knicks. For over 50 years, Knicks fans have been waiting for their team to bring home an NBA title. And after a relentless roster overhaul and a strong showing in 2024, it’s clear New York has one goal in mind—breaking that decades-long curse. With Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns leading the way.

On Wednesday night, the Knicks will take their first step toward making 2025 unforgettable when they host the Utah Jazz. But Jalen Brunson won’t be playing in the Knicks’ New Year’s Day showdown. The team ruled him out because of a tight right calf, a decision that came after he was initially listed as questionable earlier in the day. This wasn’t the first time the Knicks had to sweat it out on JB’s status, but this time, the calf issue was enough to keep him on the sidelines.

Miles McBride will be getting the starting nod in Jalen Brunson’s place, as reported by Ian Begley of SNYtv.

Now, let’s not forget what Brunson did just last week. Against the Wizards, despite the calf problem, he went off for 55 points, hitting 18 of 31 shots, and dished out nine assists in a wild 136-132 overtime win. Then, two days later, he wasn’t too far behind with 18 points and six assists in another victory.

This season, he’s been an absolute force on the court, putting up an impressive 25.2 points and 7.7 assists per game. But it’s not just about the numbers—his shooting accuracy is turning heads too. He’s hitting 48.3% of his field goals and knocking down 40.3% of his three-pointers. But tonight, the Knicks will have to go on without him.

Can Jalen Brunson propel the Knicks to the Conference Finals at least this postseason?

The Knicks’ playoff journey has been full of promise but short on results. They’ve made it to the postseason for consecutive years, but despite a third-seed finish in the Eastern Conference, they’ve fallen short. Even in 2024, when they earned the second seed, they couldn’t get past the second round. The key to their success in 2025? Avoiding one team that could be a major roadblock.

The Knicks have had their moment in the spotlight, but they haven’t capitalized. They’ve lost to lower-seeded teams in back-to-back playoff appearances, proving the hype alone isn’t enough.

At this point, the Knicks need more than just buzz—they need action. It’s up to the players to push through the unknown challenges of deep playoff runs. To really put things in perspective, the Knicks haven’t been to the Eastern Conference Finals since 2000!

If they want a shot in 2025, securing a top-four seed and jumping ahead of the Celtics to land the two-seed is crucial. This would keep them from facing the defending champions until at least the Eastern Conference Finals.

Let’s be real—no team will ever admit to avoiding a specific matchup. But if the Knicks were to make this their New Year’s resolution, getting to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years could be the fresh start they need.