In a brief two-minute stretch in which the New York Knicks held a commanding 44-point lead over the Chicago Bulls — in the team’s eventual 136-96 shellacking — MSG Networks’ Mike Breen and Walt Frazier took a moment to reflect on just how dramatically the franchise’s perception has shifted.
Those comments quickly sparked a divide across the fanbase.
Some echoed Breen’s remarks, noting that heightened expectations have led to a sense of ingratitude. Others pushed back, pointing to the organization’s aggressive, win-now approach as justification for looking further.
Knicks fan and ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith spoke out about this on “First Take,” going as far as to label Breen’s stance “blasphemous.”
Smith’s core argument centers on patience within the fanbase. It’s been over 50 years since the franchise’s last championship. With teams like the Boston Celtics staying afloat and the Detroit Pistons continuing to trend upward, it seems almost now or never for him.
“New York Knicks fans have suffered; we haven’t won a championship since Richard Nixon left office,” Smith said. “We appreciate Leon Rose and the job that he’s done. Does that mean we’re supposed to be satisfied with every damn thing that falls short of a trip to the NBA Finals?”
Interestingly, both sides have a fair argument.
Breen’s perspective
Breen seemed to be trying to compare the situation the team is in now to how it’s been in recent memory.
“How many years [could be] considered a huge success if they even clinched a playoff berth,” Breen said when referencing recent franchise history. “Obviously, a championship is what everyone wants, and that’s the goal, but just remember where the franchise was before Leon Rose arrived.”
The Knicks endured a 184-374 record across seven seasons prior to Rose’s hiring, the worst mark in the league over that span by a wide margin. Since the turn of the century up until his hiring, the franchise had just five playoff appearances in two decades, failing to advance past the second round each time.
That stretch wasn’t without talent. Players like Allan Houston, Latrell Sprewell, Marcus Camby, Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford, David Lee, Zach Randolph, Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Kristaps Porzingis all passed through — yet not enough in the grand scheme of things.
The team hadn’t played in an Eastern Conference Finals in 20 years prior to last season. Leon Rose checks in, and everything is flipped on its head.
By the time Rose arrived, New York was coming off a 21-45 campaign. In his first offseason, he brought in players like Derrick Rose, Taj Gibson, Alec Burks, Nerlens Noel, and Immanuel Quickley, as well as head coach Tom Thibodeau.
In a season shaped by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Knicks surged to a 41-31 record and secured the 4 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Even with a first-round exit, it felt different. It felt as if the team was finally building an identity.
From there, the roster only strengthened.
Enter Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Mikal Bridges, all of whom helped raise expectations to legitimate contender status.
Smith’s perspective
Smith, meanwhile, leaned into the more emotional approach. He spoke about how Knicks fans deserve a title for all they’ve been through.
It’s been more than half a century since the last title, and over three decades since the most recent Finals appearance. The current team is easily the most talented since that point, and there really isn’t an excuse not to expect a berth.
A total of $172 million and eight first-round picks were invested into this starting lineup; only teams with championship aspirations make big-boy moves on that level.
There’s also a sense of pressure. Only seven players are fully under contract for next season, with Mitchell Robinson and Landry Shamet set to hit unrestricted free agency, while Jose Alvarado holds a player option.
Young players like Mohamed Diawara, Ariel Hukporti, and Tyler Kolek have shown promise, but have struggled to find a consistent spot in the rotation. With every member of the starting lineup hitting their age-30 season or older in two years, it’s important that New York begins to accept the younger guys into the rotation.
In truth, both arguments can coexist. It’s reasonable to expect a championship given the investments, while also recognizing how far the franchise has come.
