Did the Knicks Actually Get Better?

It’s safe to say that the 2024-2025 season for the New York Knicks is the most anticipated year for their fans since the 90s. 

The Knicks had major success in the regular season last year, but what seemed like never-ending injuries eventually haunted their playoff run, with New York falling to the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 at  Madison Square Garden. 

Key players from last season have returned in '24-'25, but make no mistake, this will be a different Knicks team going forward.

After making two blockbuster trades for Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, the Knicks have officially cashed in their chips and decided they are all in on this team. With that confidence comes expectations, but also frustrations.

The Knicks suffered a 132-109 loss on opening night to the defending champion Boston Celtics, in which the Celtics' control of the game was never in doubt. The hyped-up Knicks' defensive wings were no match for the heroics of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. It also didn't help that the Celtics made almost every three they took.

The loss mostly confirmed that the Knicks, despite their massive additions, still have work to do. The splashy moves may not make the Knicks worse, but might not have made them too much better. 

Towns as a rim protector is not ideal, and while the looming discontent of Julius Randle might’ve been necessary to part ways with, Towns is more of a power-forward than a center.

Mikal Bridges struggled in Brooklyn last year as the main offensive playmaker, despite respectable numbers. Also, Knicks fans are slowly realizing his defense is not quite as good as advertised, though still a major plus. However, the awkward Bill Cartwright jumper he has decided to open the season with is concerning. It’s easy to say that it will get fixed, but unfortunately, it looks a lot more complicated. 

The Knicks practically replaced an offensive sharpshooter in Donte DiVincenzo with someone struggling to shoot in Bridges. They also traded Randle, a prime, all-star offensive player with a recent injury history and questionable basketball IQ, for Towns, a more expensive prime, all-star offensive player with a recent injury history and questionable basketball IQ. 

Considering all the assets the Knicks gave up to go all-in on this team, is it too soon to questions if these were the right moves to make?

Definitely. However, I would be lying if these questions won't float around in the back of my mind when I watch the Knicks this year.

Bing Bong?