The mission statement is simple yet loaded: win the NBA championship.
Not only do fans have this goal firmly entrenched in their hoops-loving brains, but the New York Knicks as an organization have also been transparent about it. The front office stated that goal when firing former head coach Tom Thibodeau after the 2024-25 team fell to the Indiana Pacers in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals.
As of this moment, that goal is still in clear sight.
The Knicks are crawling through the tankathon part of their schedule, most recently squeaking past the Brooklyn Nets, 93-92. Still third place in the east, the 46-25 Knicks are through 71 games with the playoffs in the crosshairs.
The question that not only remains but consistently punctures our minds, thanks to the brutal level of opponent play in the last couple of weeks, is simple: How should Knicks fans feel about this team?
Perhaps the best answer lies in comparing it to the 2024-25 New York Knicks through 71 games.
Record
2025-26
- Record: 46-25
- Home: 25-9
- Away: 20-16
2024-25
- Record: 45-26
- Home: 24-11
- Away: 21-15
The Knicks’ 46-25 record is officially one game better than last year’s squad. The team’s recent stretch of victories, primarily played against bottom-feeders, has them playing through a strange set of circumstances.
But hey, “strange” is sort of how the Eastern Conference should be labeled this season.
Perhaps the trickiest part of the record comparison is the home-road splits. For a majority of the season, this year’s team played below-.500 ball on the road, but things have evened up during this latest tankathon stretch.
Ratings
2025-26
- Net Rating: 6.5 (5th)
- Offensive Rating: 118.2 (3rd)
- Defensive Rating: 111.7 (5th)
2024-25
- Net Rating: 4.2 (6th)
- Offensive Rating: 117.6 (6th)
- Defensive Rating: 113.3 (13th)
This year’s Knicks team has better ratings across the board, in undisputed fashion.
While that’s true, why does a chunk of the Knicks fanbase feel unsettled right now? What is it about this squad that feels a bit off?
Although Knicks X-Factor’s Michael Nania made a great case for the Knicks’ playoff hopes — and not to overly worry — this season has oozed a far different feeling.
Knicks roster
2025-26 Games Played (through 71 Knicks games)
- Mikal Bridges: 71
- Karl-Anthony Towns: 66
- Jalen Brunson: 65
- Jordan Clarkson: 61
- Mohamed Diawara: 60
- OG Anunoby: 57
- Tyler Kolek: 57
- Josh Hart: 56
- Mitchell Robinson: 52
- Ariel Hukporti: 48
- Landry Shamet: 46
- Guerschon Yabusele: 41
- Deuce McBride: 35
- Pacome Dadiet: 24
- Kevin McCullar Jr.: 20
- Jose Alvarado: 19
- Jeremy Sochan: 11
- Trey Jamison III: 11
- Dillon Jones: 5
- Tosan Evbuomwan: 5
2024-25 Games Played (through 71 Knicks games)
- Mikal Bridges: 71
- Josh Hart: 68
- OG Anunoby: 65
- Cameron Payne: 65
- Karl-Anthony Towns: 64
- Jalen Brunson: 61
- Deuce McBride: 59
- Precious Achiuwa: 48
- Jericho Sims: 39
- Landry Shamet: 39
- Tyler Kolek: 35
- Ariel Hukporti: 25
- Matt Ryan: 19
- Pacome Dadiet: 16
- Jacob Toppin: 16
- Mitchell Robinson: 10
- Delon Wright: 6
- Anton Watson: 6
- MarJon Beauchamp: 3
- P.J. Tucker: 1
- Kevin McCullar Jr.: 1
The big difference here is in the big: Mitchell Robinson. Far too many fans fail to recognize that the 2024-25 Knicks played nearly the entire regular season without their big man.
If this season’s Knicks were without Mitch, they might curl up into the fetal position. He’s simply that valuable to this team that features defensive liabilities in Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.
What’s also often forgotten is how new everything was last year. Remember, Mikal Bridges had just arrived over the summer, and the Towns trade happened on the eve of the season.
Getting things rolling with such a new group isn’t easy. Plus, making those trades puts the roster at an extremely dangerous depth level. Without Mitch, Jericho Sims was relied upon as the first big off the bench.
Also, it’s safe to assume the feeling the majority of Knicks fans have about the ousted Cameron Payne. Booting him for Jordan Clarkson was widely celebrated, as were the trade-deadline acquisitions of Jose Alvarado and Jeremy Sochan.
Mohamed Diawara remains the key to this team’s championship hopes. His length and athleticism make the greatest difference. They’re already a slower, more methodical group; Diawara changes that in a respectable fashion.
The 2025-26 Knicks roster is a much more talented group, and other than Duece McBride’s injury, they have remained relatively healthy. (Even Brunson suffered a brutal ankle injury towards the end of last season, which hampered him in the playoffs.)
Competition
2025-26 Games Played (through March 21, 2025)
- Cade Cunningham: 61
- Giannis Antetokounmpo: 36
- Damian Lillard (with Bucks): 0
- Jayson Tatum: 7
- Jaylen Brown: 63
- Tyrese Haliburton: 0
- Tyler Herro: 24
- Donovan Mitchell: 62
- James Harden (with Cavs): 17
- Darius Garland (with Cavs): 26
- Jarrett Allen: 51
- Joel Embiid: 33
2024-25 Games Played (through March 25, 2025)
- Cade Cunningham: 66
- Giannis Antetokounmpo: 59
- Damian Lillard: 58
- Jayson Tatum: 66
- Jaylen Brown: 57
- Tyrese Haliburton: 64
- Tyler Herro: 69
- Donovan Mitchell: 65
- James Harden: 0
- Darius Garland: 67
- Jarrett Allen: 72
- Joel Embiid: 19
This is a near-mythical comparison. How is it possible for so many great players to hit the injured list simultaneously?
Yes, it was enraging for Knicks fans to lose to the Pacers in six games last year, but it was even more frustrating when considering the Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton injuries.
Cade Cunningham’s ascent is perhaps the only difference working against this year’s squad, but even he couldn’t stay healthy. The would-be NBA MVP’s collapsed lung has put the No. 1-seeded Detroit Pistons’ future in doubt.
Results
It all boils down to expectations. This was and is supposed to still be the Knicks’ chance to win a championship.
Never had the East been this wide open. Just a glance at the games played above provides more than enough context.
Seeing the sheer number of devastating injuries in one conference, coupled with the Knicks’ improving roster, should only lead to championship expectations. That is, unless you were already of the opinion that this team doesn’t make sense together, and that what Mike Brown attempted to make this roster failed spectacularly (for over half ot he season).
To Brown’s credit, the Knicks altered their identity enough, and the rewards for doing so have come in the win column. Nevertheless, the true test will come once the NBA playoffs arrive.
In short, the 2025-26 Knicks roster is, by far, more talented than the 2024-25 iteration. Yet, the Knicks’ competition is, again, by far (even more so) weaker than in 2024-25. Everybody knew this going into the season, which is why the Knicks were the consensus preseason pick to come out of the East.
The big question: Which team is better?
As of now, that can only be answered on an individual basis, based on the team’s overall feel and coaching. Those who choose the talent and Mike Brown take this year’s squad.
Those who firmly believe Tom Thibodeau’s pulse on the team lifted their ceiling, particularly against much stiffer competition, chose last year’s. This is the group that would have loved to see an improved roster with more cohesion — with a year under their belts — coached by Thibs.
From an objective, on-paper measure, everything, literally everything, favors the 2025-26 Knicks.
Therefore, it’s tough to be satisfied with the Knicks’ current situation. Something just isn’t right.
This season’s Knicks roster is better, deeper, healthier (particularly in having Mitch all year), and the competition is woefully weaker. Everything has lined up perfectly, other than how coaching impact is measured, which remains the unknown variable when the going gets tough.
It’s as if the basketball gods said, “Here you go, New York; this year is on us. Go take it.”
Can they? Can this Mike Brown-led squad get it done?
Was the Tom Thibodeau firing the start of the slow descent to the end, or was it the signal that it’s go-time?
Only the 2026 NBA playoffs can answer it for us. Until then, try to enjoy the New York Knicks running through the tank schedule.
