RSS Knicks Team Notes

[New York Knicks]

SummerKnicks Game Preview: Knicks vs. Pistons, July 11, 2025

Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

Let’s go, summer hoopers!

Summer League basketball is back, baby.

The New York Knicks open their 2025 Summer League campaign tonight at 6:00 PM ET, facing the Detroit Pistons in Las Vegas. Knicks summer league games will be televised on ESPN2 and NBA TV. You can also stream them on ESPN+, NBA League Pass, and other streaming services.

The Knicks’ Summer League roster showcases a mix of returning and incoming prospects, including second-year players Pacome Dadiet, Kevin McCullar Jr., Tyler Kolek, and Ariel Hukporti, alongside new faces Dink Pate, James Nnaji, and Mohamed Diawara.

The team is coached by assistant Jordan Brink, known for his elite challenge success rate. Other intriguing names include Anton Watson and MarJon Beauchamp, who had brief stints with the Knicks last season, and fan favorite Yudai Baba, a G League veteran. While Summer League performance isn’t always predictive of regular-season success, this group offers plenty of questions worth watching—like whether Kolek can make a leap, Dadiet can flash offensive upside, or the new additions can force their way into the conversation.

Let the Summer Madness begin.

DETAILS​

• When: Friday, July 11, 6:00 PM ET
• Where: Cox Pavilion, Las Vegas
• Watch: ESPN2, NBA TV
• Next Up: The Celtics on July 13, then Brooklyn (July 15) and Indiana (July 17)

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...s-game-preview-knicks-vs-pistons-july-11-2025

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: ‘Fast is really decision-making, playing with an 0.5 mentality’

Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

Fast Knicks will be fun.

The Knicks allowed the Pistons to beat them after touching them in the playoffs.

Detroit might not sniff another win against New York for the next 12 months.

Here’s what we’ve heard about and around the Knicks during the past few hours.

final pic.twitter.com/QdQ7HwcoyD

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) July 12, 2025​

Jordan Brink (Summer Knicks Coach)​

On implementing Mike Brown’s faster philosophy at the Summer League:

“It doesn’t just mean playing up and down, like we have to get out in transition. The fast part is all of the stuff in our actions.

“If we get the ball up the floor quick and don’t have anything, we’re to the next action. Fast is really decision-making, playing with a ‘.5’ mentality. That’s fast, too. I think a lot of our guys early on … we want to play fast, but we don’t want to play rushed. We want to make quick decisions.”

On acknowledging Brown’s desire to play fast, starting in Vegas:

“We’ve communicated foundationally on what we want to do on both sides of the ball. A huge part of it — and he talked about it with you guys in his presser — is just playing fast.”

On the need for tune-ups following the loss to the Pistons:

“I thought it took us a while to get adjusted to the game. We played fast and played with pace all week in practice. And then the first five minutes today, we didn’t really have that.

“So that was the biggest thing from an offensive standpoint of how we wanted to play. I don’t think we did a good job of executing that.”

Jordi Fernandez (Brooklyn Nets Head Coach)​

On Mike Brown’s fearless approach:

“The one thing you can tell about Mike Brown is that he’s not scared. I give him a lot of respect for that. He always is up for the challenge. He was at that time, 2009, 2010, [then] he was with Sacramento and it was the longest playoff drought in history, and he is right now joining the Knicks. You guys have somebody that will not be afraid and he’ll be ready to do what he needs to do. And I think you learn from all those situations. That’s why he’s the coach he is right now.”

On how he met Mike Brown and what he learned from him:

“I met Mike through working with his son Elijah. And long story short, he offered me to go to Cleveland to work with Elijah and ended up hiring me in Cleveland. That’s how I started my journey in the NBA. Always thankful to him . . . He helped me a lot, gave me the opportunity, but most important thing, he treated me like family. I still consider him like my family. Sometimes he’d watch me through film. That’s very Mike-like. And always attention to detail. Great way about him. You know, incredible worker. I learned a lot of the things about those details and teaching and so forth.”

On Brown’s evolution across teams:

“You see the Mike at the beginning. When I met him, he was 39, just turning 40. I always remember the day that we celebrated his 40th birthday at the facility with everybody there, in the 2009-10 season. And then you see the evolution, going through Golden State, going to the Lakers, coming back and going to Golden State. You see obviously the same person, good person, talented person, but with different experience. And we all become part of our experiences as coaches. And that’s been the coolest thing. I see the same Mike as a person, but different. I’ve enjoyed seeing that from him. The thing is we all have to learn from experiences, keep the good and correct some of the things when the experience is not that good. I give him a lot of credit. He didn’t stick in his own ways. He always got better and now he gets to coach a very special organization.”

On Mike Brown’s demanding nature:

“In a good way, yes. He works really hard. He wants everybody else to work hard. He always has a very good way with people. People love Mike Brown. And he will hold everybody accountable, not just the players but everybody that works around him and himself. When he feels like he made a mistake, he’ll share with everybody else. So I’ve learned a lot from him.”

Tyler Kolek​

On his offseason development:

“We’ve been working all summer. I’m just trying to get my body right and improve—conditioning, shooting, finishing, defense, all aspects.”

On looking forward to play more games under Brown’s philosophy:

“He hasn’t addressed the whole team. He just got here last week.

“But from what the coaches have been emphasizing in summer league, and I’m sure what he’s relayed to them, it’s just play faster, get the ball out, we want to sprint up the floor, move the ball.”

Mitchell Robinson​

On giving back through basketball camps:

“If coming to these camps gets them out the house, shows them there’s more to life, then hell… if I can help change lives in this community that took me in as one of their own.”

Wally Szczerbiak (Former NBA Player)​

On what it’s like to play for Mike Brown:

“I loved it… Outstanding leader.

“In the film rooms, he gets his message across. There’s no messing around.

“If you have a problem, he has an open door. He likes expectations, championship or bust.”

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...decision-making-playing-with-an-0-5-mentality

 

[New York Knicks]

Get to know the Knicks’ Summer League roster

Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

The focal points, lottery tickets, and fun stories.

The offseason can be long and unforgiving. It rings true in any sport.

With the Knicks, even though it’s only been 43 days since the last time they took the floor, it feels significantly longer. It’ll be another 81 days until their first preseason game in Abu Dhabi on October 2.

In the meantime, we have Summer League.

There’s a good chance that not a single player on the Knicks’ Summer League roster is a key contributor to what hopes to be a championship contender at the World’s Most Famous Arena next season, but there exists a bevy of interesting young players that could occupy key depth spots, while other fight for two-way contracts and an NBA dream that seems so distant when you latch onto the back of a Summer League roster.

The Summer Knicks opened their likely five-game tenure in Las Vegas with a discouraging defeat at the hands of Ron Holland II and the Pistons, but are back in action at 5:30 tonight against the Boston Celtics.

With four more games to go, let’s get to know the roster of guys that, at least for the summer, are all we've got.

your knicks summer league roster pic.twitter.com/W3ZWMEd573

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) July 7, 2025​

The Sophomores​

#4 Pacome Dadiet (F-France)​

6-7, 210lb | Age: 19 | Draft: 2024-25th (NYK)

It’ll be a pivotal summer for the former first-round pick.

He’ll look to impress new head coach Mike Brown, who presumably will be more willing to play young players. If he shows more consistency with his jumper (31.9 3pt% in G-League), he’ll be closer to being ready for NBA minutes. Unlike with others, there’s not much urgency with Dadiet, who’s in the second year of a four-year rookie contract and was expected to be a long-term project.

#9 Kevin McCullar Jr. (F-Kansas)​

6-6, 210lb | Age: 24 | Draft: 2024-56th (PHX, traded to NYK)

This will be a pivotal summer for McCullar, too, but for a different reason. He hasn’t gotten to play much basketball lately.

Since sustaining a season-ending knee injury prior to the 2024 NCAA Tournament that March, he has played a grand total of 18 games of basketball, nearly all in Westchester. With his age and injury history, he will need to make the most of this opportunity for the Knicks to roster him (reminder: he’s currently a restricted free agent).

#13 Tyler Kolek (G-Marquette)​

6-1, 195lb | Age: 24 | Draft: 2024-34th (POR, traded to NYK)

Kolek might have the easiest path to playing time of the Summer Knicks, but he also has a lot to prove. We know he can be a ballhandler and distributor, but his scoring ability was inconsistent in the few opportunities he had with the big club. Can he create his own shot consistently and show improvements on defense?

#55 Ariel Hukporti (C-Germany)​

7-0, 246lb | Age: 24 | Draft: 2024-58th (DAL, traded to NYK)

Hukporti has the least to prove of the four. He got the most playing time of the 2024 draftees last year and has a limited role as a traditional big. Can we see more of that floater he flashed at times last year? Anything more than being a rim-protecting, rebounding, traditional big is a plus.

The Projects​

#28 Dink Pate (G-Mexico City Capitanes)​

6-8, 210lb | Age: 19 | Draft: UDFA (2025)

Pate is a wiry, wing-sized guard that was once a first-round prospect, but suffered from the failure known as G-League Ignite before being screwed out of last year’s draft. He signed an Exhibit 10 deal after going undrafted.

In 2024-25 with Mexico City, another G-League team, he averaged 10.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists on 40.7% from the field and 25.8% from 3. He’s insistent on his three-ball, despite it just not falling. One sign of promise is that he shot well in the preseason tip-off tournament (40.4% from 3). He’s probably worth a two-way, but he’ll have to show he’s worth it.

#46 James Nnaji (C-Nigeria)​

7-0, 250lb | Age: 20 | Draft: 2023-31st (DET, traded to CHA)

Nnaji is coming over from Europe. The Eurostash was traded from Charlotte to New York in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, and he appears willing to make it work in the States instead of a trial run like Rokas Jokubaitis in the past.

Nnaji has a big, filled-out frame and figures to be a significantly more raw Mitchell Robinson. Will he show enough to get the last roster spot or will he toil in Westchester on a two-way?

#51 Mohamed Diawara (F-France)​

6-9, 225lb | Age: 20 | Draft: 2025-51st (LAC, traded to NYK)

Diawara is the latest Knicks’ draft pick. With a bevy of options available to sign the second-round exception, there remains a significant chance he’s stashed in Europe for another year.

In 2024-25, he averaged 5.8 points for Cholet Basket in the LNB Elite. He has traits, but figures to have a lot of stuff to work on. What kind of player does he want to be? A defensive specialist? A stretch four?

Mohamed Diawara double double with 10pt 12rbd 1ast 1st 21 efficiency , in 1/4 final game vs Zaragoza @CB_officiel #Mazsportagency pic.twitter.com/mbehPpD6bU

— Olivier MAZET (@OlivierMAZET) March 8, 2025​

The Vets​

#14 MarJon Beauchamp (F-Yakima Valley)​

6-6, 199lb | Age: 24 | Draft: 2022-24th (MIL)

Beauchamp is the vet of the group. His 135 games of NBA experience across three seasons with three teams are by far the most of anyone on the roster. He spent the second half of 2024-25 on a two-way deal with the Knicks.

He figures to be the yearly “veteran who takes up shots with the kids”, despite being young himself. Think of Duane Washington Jr., the last two years. He’s still unsigned, so consider this an audition for another two-way.

#21 Anton Watson (F-Gonzaga)​

6-8, 225lb | Age: 24 | Draft: 2024-54th (BOS)

Watson played nine games with the Knicks last season after signing a two-way contract on March 4. The Idaho native was an inside-the-arc role player with Gonzaga, shooting 63.6% from 2, but just 30.7% from 3. That archetype carried over into the G-League, as his splits were eerily similar when he was with the Maine Celtics.

The Rest​

#18 Yudai Baba (G-Japan)​

6-6, 198lb | Age: 29 | Draft: UDFA (2017)

Baba is the oldest player on the team. He’s an NBL champion and B.League Finals MVP in Japan and Australia. He’s played three different stints with the G-League Texas Legends since 2019, most recently being a key player on their 2022-23 team, averaging 12.3 points and 4.9 rebounds, shooting 40.8% from 3.

He can dunk.

Japanese star Yudai Baba will play for the Knicks in Summer League, according to the Japan's National Basketball Team

6'5" Baba, 29, has played in Summer League & G League several times, the Olympics & the NBL

He's known for his "Baba Boom" dunks pic.twitter.com/7eBFs1QFOi

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) July 4, 2025​

#26 Jamal Bey (G-Washington)​

6-6, 210lb | Age: 24 | Draft: UDFA (2023)

Bey was a five-year player with Washington, peaking as a junior before he struggled with efficiency towards the end. He finished his collegiate career shooting just 38.2% from the field.

Bey joined the Westchester Knicks, where he’s played the last two seasons. In 33 games last year, he averaged 10.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists on 39% from the field and 36.3% from downtown.

#27 Biwali Bayles (G-Hawaii)​

6-1, 180lb | Age: 23 | Draft: UDFA (2022)

Bayles is currently playing overseas with the Sydney Comets of NBL1 East.

He played one season, 2020-21, in college with Hawaii before electing to turn pro. In that season, he scored 6.2 points a game on 43.2% from deep. The 23-year-old has won two NBL titles as a role player.

The Knicks are bringing Australian guard Biwali Bayles to Summer League, per @OlgunUluc

Bayles, 6'1 and 23 y/o, played one season of college basketball at Hawaii in 2020 before returning to Australia to win two NBL championshipspic.twitter.com/sv8IFLO1Qc

— The Strickland (@TheStrickland) June 25, 2025​

#29 Jaden Campbell (G-Samford)​

6-5, 205lb | Age: 25 | Draft: UDFA (2024)

Campbell, an Ontario native, played three seasons with the Samford Bulldogs.

In his senior year in 2023-24, he was one of the best shooters in the Southern Conference, averaging 11.3 points and 3.2 rebounds on 53.6% from the field and 47.9% from downtown on 3.5 attempts a game.

He spent 2024-25 with USK Praha in the Czech Republic.

#30 Dae Dae Grant (G-Duquesne)​

6-2, 185lb | Age: 24 | Draft: UDFA (2024)

Dae Dae was a two-time All-Atlantic 10 player and was the best player on the 2023-24 Duquesne team that made the NCAA Tournament, scoring 19 points in their historic first-round victory over BYU.

He spent this past season with CB Breogan in Liga ACB in Spain, averaging 14.2 points a night.

#31 Nick Jourdain (F-Memphis)​

6-8, 205lb | Age: 23 | Draft: UDFA (2025)

Jourdain is a Clifton, NJ native who split his five years in college with Temple and Memphis.

In 2024-25, he averaged 6.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists with 1.8 stocks as a full-time starter for the Tigers. His three-point shot was inconsistent all year, going 0-for-3 in Memphis’ first-round loss to Colorado State in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

#35 Luka Ščuka (F-Slovenia)​

6-10 | Age: 23 | Draft: UDFA (2024)

The Knicks got Luka!!! Oh, wait. Wrong one.

Of all the guys in this section, Ščuka got the most meaningful playing time in Friday’s game, playing decent minutes in the first quarter. He spent four years with Cedevita Olimpija in Slovenia, winning two titles, before spending the 2024-25 season with Löwen Braunschweig in Germany.

Welcome to the Knicks Luka Scuka

6’10 Slovenian makes New York’s Summer League roster pic.twitter.com/Zre38EtYvT

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) July 7, 2025​

#46 Lance Ware (F-UT Arlington)​

6-9, 223lb | Age: 24 | Draft: UDFA (2025)

Ware is the Villanova representation. Kinda.

Ware committed to Kentucky out of Camden, NJ in 2020, but struggled to find a consistent role there before transferring to Villanova for the 2023-24 season. After another disappointing campaign, he left the Power Five altogether for a full-time starting job in the WAC, where he posted averages of 13.4 points and 9.6 rebounds on 58.4% shooting for a 13-18 UT Arlington squad.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...-hukporti-mccullar-diawara-pate-scuka-dae-dae

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: ‘That just shows what type of guys we have in our locker room’

Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images

The Summer Knicks go 0-2 so the NBA Knicks can go 82-0.

The Summer Knicks keep losing walking in Vegas, so the NBA Knicks can win run come June.

Funnily enough, New York is giving their last bunch of postseason foes a break just in case that’s enough—it looks like it is—for them to say they’ve conquered the Knicks.

Here’s what we’ve heard of late.

final pic.twitter.com/Wy1ijx7FaA

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) July 13, 2025​

Kevin McCullar Jr.​

On his injury-delayed rookie year:

“This is really my real rookie season. Last year, I just got to be able to get my feet wet a little bit.

“I love playing and I missed it for so long. Now it’s pretty much my rookie season.”

On his recovery and current mindset:

“It was a grind to get back healthy, and I’m feeling good right now.”

On making his NBA debut and scoring his first basket at the end of last season:

“It was a grind. They used to all see me when they would come for practice, I would have to do the training room stuff and have to sit on the side and just kind of cheer. So yeah, when I got to score my first basket, I think Josh (Hart) had a triple-double and broke the record, and he still gave me the basketball. So that just shows what type of guys we have in our locker room, and I was just blessed to be a part of it.”

On the adversity of his first year in the NBA:

“It’s not how you want to come into the league, but you know it’s the hand I was dealt. This is really my real rookie season. Last year, I just got to be able to get my feet wet a little bit, got to get out there and get to play. And I was able to just enjoy the game. I love playing, and I missed it for so long. Now it’s pretty much my rookie season.”

Tyler Kolek​

On approaching each season as a new chance:

“I think every season is a new opportunity. Every year is a fresh start, new guys come in. We signed some free agents, so every year there’s fresh opportunity. And it starts right here, proving myself here, proving myself in August workouts, prove myself in camp, and then throughout the season. Just keep on proving myself until you get to where you have to be and then you have to do it all over again. It never really stops.”

"I just gotta show what I can do on the court. I'm not stressed, I got experience in Europe. Just keep pushing"

–– Knicks 51st pick Mohamed Diawara on NBA Summer League pic.twitter.com/Nq7XOD9phQ

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) July 13, 2025​

Mohamed Diawara​

On showcasing his talents to earn a spot in the Knicks’ roster:

“I just gotta show what I can do on the court. I’m not stressed, I got experience in Europe. Just keep pushing”

Leon Rose wants a word with Mike Brown courtside pic.twitter.com/BsUFLoaRzL

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) July 13, 2025​

Jordan Brink (Summer Knicks Coach)​

On McCullar’s performance and toughness in Vegas:

“Kevin was solid. Got to take care of the ball a little bit better and that’s part of the learning curve for him as a primary ball handler. You see he had a mask on. He got hit in the head and then he got hit in the head again. That’s kind of how he plays. He’s a gritty player. He’s always in the mix with the physical contact. He fought through and I thought he had a pretty good game.”

On McCullar’s development and work ethic:

“Kevin’s a worker. Coming back from the injury last year he actually had a great season dealing with adversity. I thought he put his down and attacked his rehab and got healthy. And now he’s finally able to play every night. But he’s going to just continue to grow. He missed a lot of reps with his injury. So he’s going to just continue grow as he gets out there in game experience.”

On McCullar’s playmaking helping soften Tyler Kolek’s duties:

“We’re trying to mix up the looks, trying to get Tyler off the ball a little bit to alleviate some of the ball pressure he’s seeing full court. Still not doing a great job of getting to our space. That’s something we’ve got to continue to clean up. But part of the summer league experience for Kevin was to try to get him some ballhandling reps and see how he can do in that role.”

Mike Brown​

On how his coaching philosophy has evolved:

“When I was in San Antonio with David [Robinson] and Tim [Duncan], it was about playing inside out. Now fast forward to my time with Steve [in Golden State], it’s about pace and space.”

On transitioning from a paint-centric offense to the pace-and-space era:

“That’s where the game is. Like I said, if you can’t evolve, you’re going to get left behind. I feel like I’m trying to do that. Hopefully we’ll bring some of that here.”

Guerschon Yabusele​

On ditching the Nuggets for the Knicks in free agency:

“It was super fast! As soon as I received (the offer from New York), I had to give an answer within two hours.

“On the other side, we also had the one in Denver. You had to be quick not to miss the opportunity that New York represents, in a great living environment!”

On choosing the Knicks and his excitement about the team:

“When you look at New York, you can already see that the franchise has risen a lot in recent years. They are conference finalists; the collective project is visible and very interesting for me. They are a very good team that plays very well together and is playing for the title! Having this goal was something important for me, I want to play for something. Apart from that, New York is a historic team. Playing at Madison Square Garden is the dream of every NBA player, including mine! It’s a special place, I’m very happy to be there!”

I don’t know if i can invest in this Knicks summer league

— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) July 13, 2025​

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...-what-type-of-guys-we-have-in-our-locker-room

 

[New York Knicks]

Celtics 94, Knicks 81: Scenes from a Vegas summertime slugfest

Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images

It’s go time for the baby Knicks.

Summer League can often be a tantalizing time of year for NBA fans.

As the old saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Rookies often headline the biggest games, but teams get to showcase all of their up-and-coming talent, thrusting players into larger roles that might not get a chance to prove themselves at the NBA level. Sure, it passes as developmental, but Summer League is all about making your name stick. It’s less results oriented, and success (usually) isn’t measured in wins and losses; it’s about finding out who has what it takes to play at this level. First- and second-year players traditionally show up to Vegas to try and show their franchises why they’re deserving of a role now. So do some older vets who have never found their footing in the league.

While the cast of characters can vary, one thing is for sure; if you’re looking to prove yourself deserving to your front office, Summer League is a pretty darn good place to do it.

Especially when you’re buried at the bottom of ex-coach Tom Thibodeau’s bench. Tyler Kolek, Pacome Dadiet, Ariel Hukporti, and Kevin McCullar Jr. were all selected in last year’s draft. All four played few meaningful minutes over the course of the season. There’s a lot to be intrigued about all four of them; unfortunately, there’s also a lot that we don’t know.

Thow in Mohamed Diawara, the Knicks’ only selection from this year’s draft (taken 51st), intriguing UDFA signing Dink Pate, former second round pick James Nnaji,and Marjon Beauchamp, a two-way signing from last season, and there’s a lot of reasons to keep tabs on this summer’s squad.

Well, time to prove yourselves. After a mostly disappointing opening game against the Pistons on Friday, one in which the Knicks shot 6-27 from downtown, New York looked to rebound against the Boston Celtics this evening.

Ultimately, they did not, losing by the score of 94 to 81, but there were a lot of takeaways from tonight’s game.

There was good. There was bad. And there was definitely ugly.

The good:

Kevin McCullar Jr.’s scoring

McCullar shined as a scorer in 28 minutes of play, shooting 10-15 from the field and going 9-10 from the charity stripe. Don’t let his six turnovers and eight (!!!) fouls fool you; he had it going tonight.

Kevin McCullar Jr. dropped 30 on 10-15 FGM for the @nyknicks in #NBA2KSummerLeague action pic.twitter.com/6iiId3sqZn

— NBA (@NBA) July 13, 2025​

You’ll see he had the majority of his points generated by driving to the rim, and his finishing ability and high motor were evident all game. After missing most of last season (including last year’s Summer League), it’ll be interesting to see if McCullar can make his mark with the parent club this season on a two-way deal.

Ariel Hukporti’s paint presence

Hukporti showed some real flashes his rookie year with New York, and today he showed why he could really contribute this year to the Knicks.

Watch this:

Ariel Hukporti Celtics in 21 MINS:

9 PTS (2-4 FG, 5-6 FT)
13 REB (6 OREB)
3 BLK
2 STL
1 AST pic.twitter.com/hfAvJMV7PV

— NBL Next Stars (@NBLNextStars) July 14, 2025​

Huk’s rebounding, rim protecting, and hard-set screens all looked NBA level today. With a year under his belt, new coach Mike Brown might be inclined to give him consistent minutes if he can continue to improve.

The bad

Tyler Kolek’s… everything

All of New York is rooting for Kolek to succeed after watching him dominate the Big East with Marquette for three years. He’s a fan favorite, and Coach Thibs’ reluctance to play him only made Kolek more endearing to the fanbase. Unfortunately, he turned in his second straight dud of Summer League, and what a stinker it was. 3 points on 1-13 shooting. 4 assists. 4 turnovers. Yikes. Let’s just forget this one ever happened.

MarJon Beauchamp’s offense

For a guy expected to make his mark at the NBA level as a scorer, 0 points on 0-5 from the field in 16 minutes of play just won’t cut it. Beauchamp looked more confident in Thursday’s matchup against the Pistons; let’s see if he can right the ship on Tuesday against the Nets.

The ugly

Injuries

This is a header you never want to see on a Summer League post.

James Nnaji left the game with lower back tightness. Pacome Dadiet left the game with left foot soreness. Kevin McCullar took an absolute shot to the face while wearing a protective mask.

Let’s err on the right side of healthy, please. Tread carefully, folks.

As stated, your Summer League Knicks next appear on Tuesday against the Brooklyn Nets. Let’s hope for health and a game to walk away inspired by.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...ks-81-scenes-from-a-vegas-summertime-slugfest

 

[New York Knicks]

Updates on who the Knicks are targeting with final veteran minimum contract

Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Would you rather them bring Shamet back or take a chance on Simmons?

As Michael Zeno wrote last week, Guerschon Yabusele taking less than the taxpayer mid-level exception has put the Knicks in a position where they have one more veteran minimum contract available to help fill out their roster. And since that report, there’s been a myriad of names being thrown around. Torrey Craig, Alec Burks, Caleb Houstan, Thomas Bryant, Mo Bamba, and more have all garnered some noise as potential options.

But earlier today, Ian Begley of SNY keyed in on a few names in particular. The long-trusted Knicks insider said, “Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook are among the lead guards still on the market. Teams are wondering if Washington will agree to a buyout with veteran guard Marcus Smart.”

Those three names seem somewhat unlikely for different reasons, though. Paul is believed to be seeking a starting job to conclude what he recently alluded to would be his last season. Westbrook and the Knicks were said to have some mutual interest earlier in the offseason, but with New York already having Jordan Clarkson and Deuce McBride off the bench, it seems unlikely that he’d be given the kind of playing time he’d be happy with. As far as Smart goes, he hasn’t been the same player since leaving Boston, and he, like Westbrook, is likely looking for a situation where he can play more and improve his stock going forward.

There are two more intriguing names that Begley mentioned, though. He mentioned that former Brooklyn Net Ben Simmons was an option. Simmons is rumored to be looking for more than just a minimum deal, but Begley reported that the two sides have continued to touch base. This could be a sign that if there aren’t any other enticing options, Simmons could be open to taking the minimum to play for a contending team, where he would certainly have a decent role.

The New York Knicks have continued to touch base with Ben Simmons, per @IanBegley

“Who might the Knicks sign with that veteran’s minimum deal? They have continued to touch base with Ben Simmons during the free agency period. I’m sure they have touched base with other vets as… pic.twitter.com/QGta5S4pog

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 15, 2025​

The injury-plagued former number one pick has had plenty of ups and downs throughout his career, but he showed some flashes of still being a productive player last season. In 33 games as a Net, he averaged 6.2PPG, 6.9APG, and 5.2RPG. And while his role and playing time took a significant hit when he became a Clipper, he still had several nice moments.

Obviously, the injuries and complete lack of shooting will always be a concern with Simmons, but his on-ball playmaking, rebounding, and defensive versatility could prove to be valuable, especially on a Knicks team where he wouldn’t be asked to do too much.

That being said, Begley also noted that the team views a reunion with Landry Shamet as a possibility, with Shamet himself remaining open to a return as well. Shamet started off the season slowly as he was working himself back from a shoulder injury, but he eventually won over the fanbase with his tenacious defense, connective play on offense, and occasional clutch three. With a full season as a Knick under his belt, seeing what Shamet could do with a fully healthy season could end up proving to be the best decision.

Regardless of which way the Knicks go, though, it’s clear that New York still has plenty of options. They may not necessarily be the kind of options that will change the dynamic of this team or change the ceiling of this team. But with guys like Shamet and Simmons reportedly being interested in being a Knick, there’s a good chance that the Knicks will be able to add another solid rotational piece before the season begins.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...targeting-with-final-veteran-minimum-contract

 

[New York Knicks]

SummerKnicks Game Preview: Knicks vs. Nets, July 15, 2025

Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images

Time to show some progress....

The New York Knicks are back in action tonight as they take on the Brooklyn Nets* in their third Summer League game. Tip off will be at 6 PM EDT on ESPN2.

After getting outmuscled by Charles Bassey and the Celtics in a 94–81 loss, the Knicks are looking to bounce-back. Kevin McCullar Jr. was a bright spot against Boston, dropping 30 points and making the most of limitless fouls (he logged eight). We’ll be watching to see if he can keep up that scoring punch tonight. Otherwise, Pacome Dadiet and Tyler Kolek couldn’t get going, and the frontcourt didn’t do much to slow down Boston’s interior attack.

Ariel Hukporti and James Nnaji should have opportunities to show their stuff today. Brooklyn* isn’t loaded up front, but they’ve got athleticism and shooters—expect them to push the pace and test New York’s transition defense.

Assistant coach Jordan Brink is again running the show on the sidelines. Wins don’t mean much in Summer League, but this is a good opportunity for the Knicks to show some cohesion under pressure. New head coach Mike Brown has been taking in the games, watching to see who might contribute during the regular season. Elsewhere, Marcus Smart rides an exercise bike and awaits a phone call from his agent. . . .

DETAILS:​

Who: New York Knicks vs. Brooklyn Nets*

When: Tuesday, July 15, 6:00 PM ET

Where: Cox Pavilion, Las Vegas

Watch: ESPN2, NBA TV

*Editor’s Note: Woops. They’re playing the Nets, not the Hornets.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...s-game-preview-knicks-vs-hornets-july-15-2025

 

[New York Knicks]

Tackling Knicks Questions Ahead of Camp

In one of the fastest years on record, we find that Knicks training camp is only a month away. I swear I just put the snow shovels in storage. Why is my wife already talking about school shopping? And when did my beard go totally white?

This week, James L. Edwards III of The Athletic laid out the Knicks’ biggest unknowns. First among them: playing time for the youngsters.

Cat Stevens once asked, “Where do the children play?” The answer: probably not Madison Square Garden. Sophomores Tyler Kolek, Pacôme Dadiet, Kevin McCullar Jr., and Ariel Hukporti all want floor time, but only the Incredible Huk is likely to carve out meaningful minutes on such a veteran-heavy roster. Plus, the Knicks still have a slot to sign a quality bench player on a vet-minimum deal. It seems these year-two players will remain pine-fresh for a second straight campaign, barring two unlesses: injuries, or a front office mandate for Mike Brown to develop the kids.

Here’s a possible positional tier. Don’t hold me to it:

Starters: Brunson | Bridges | Anunoby | Towns | Robinson
Second Unit: McBride | Clarkson | Hart | Yabusele | Hukporti
Stay-Ready Crew: Kolek | Dadiet | McCullar | Mystery Vet

Then, in his piece, Edwards also raises the annual question of Mitchell Robinson’s future. The oft-injured Blockness Monster is extension-eligible, and his trade value could be tested if he stays healthy through the deadline. Same story, different year: if Mitch plays, you keep him; if he’s hurt, you move on—but what team is trading a valuable package for an injured center? For now, the big Cajun is healthy. Maybe this is the year he earns some serious Defensive Player of the Year consideration.

Edwards closes with another question: Can Mike Brown get the team to play faster? The Knicks ranked near the bottom in pace last season under Tom Thibodeau. Says Edwards:

“I do believe personnel factors heavily into how fast a team can or cannot play. Some players just have different gears, different methods. I do believe, though, that the Knicks, despite not having the players to be top-five in pace, can improve significantly simply through an improved half-court offense.”

With the exception of Clarkson and Yabu, this is a run-back of last year’s lineup. We saw how fast they played. Even if Brown puts itching powder in their shorts and swaps their Gatorade for Red Bull, it’s hard to imagine Mike getting that much more speed out of this assortment of legs. But this might be one of my pessimistic days.

Read the full piece here.

As for who the Knicks might land with that veteran’s minimum . . . Edwards has thoughts on that, too, in a piece published yesterday. Maybe we should call this the Aggregated Edwards Edition.

According to the intrepid reporter, New York’s top target is Malik Beasley (the sharpshooter recently cleared in a federal gambling probe), though he may draw larger offers elsewhere. Other possibilities include familiar faces Landry Shamet and Delon Wright, plus steady vets like Monté Morris, Seth Curry, Alec Burks, and Malcolm Brogdon. Each would bring shooting or playmaking insurance, though minutes might be scarce on an already wing-heavy roster. Ben Simmons remains a long shot. And can you really see yourself cheering for Ben Simmons in a Knicks jersey? Me, neither.

Read the piece about the vets here.

Go Knicks.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/knicks-analysis/73270/tackling-knicks-questions-ahead-of-camp

 

[New York Knicks]

Taking a closer look at the Knicks’ newly released schedule

After a few relatively quiet weeks of rumors surrounding jersey releases and who the Knicks would sign to fill their last roster spot, we finally received the release of the 2025-26 regular season schedule yesterday. With 80 of the 82 games now revealed (the last two will be revealed after the NBA Cup group play), we take a look at the most intriguing games and which games you should have circled.

October 22nd vs. Cavaliers

The first game of the season, almost regardless of the matchup, is a must-watch for any fan of any team. It signifies hope and a new season, often filled with changes. For the Knicks, though, it signifies both of those things, and more. Not only are the Knicks coming into the season with both internal and external expectations after a season filled with changes, but they are playing the Cavaliers, who figure to be their biggest challenge in their quest to make it back to the finals for the first time in over two decades. It will be a fun challenge for two teams who have some recent playoff history and will want to throw the first punch in what should be a season-long battle for supremacy in the conference.

November 5th vs. Timberwolves

Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo already made their returns to Madison Square Garden last year. But we’ve yet to see both of them playing on the same night in The Garden. Randle was out in the Timberwolves’ preseason game in New York and made his return in their January 17th regular season game, and while DiVincenzo did appear in the aforementioned preseason contest, he was out for the regular season game on the 17th. If both are healthy and good to go, this game will be not only DiVincenzo’s first regular-season game back in New York, but it will be the first time both of them will be available at Madison Square Garden as visitors. And yes, it’s been nearly a year since the two were traded to Minnesota. But Randle, despite being a polarizing figure, was an incredibly pivotal part of the Knicks, and DiVincenzo was among the most beloved Knicks ever. Seeing them potentially share the floor against the Knicks, in what’ll be New York’s first game against a Western Conference opponent, should be a fun one.

November 12th vs. Magic

While pretty much every NBA analyst, reporter, and fan agrees that the Eastern Conference will be led by the Cavaliers and Knicks, the overwhelming consensus is that the Magic will be third. The Celtics are obviously in a gap year due to Jayson Tatum’s injury, the 76ers still rely too much on injured stars, and the Bucks, despite having one of the best players in the world, have still failed to put a competent team around him. That leaves the Magic, who have not only been an annoying team to play the last couple of years, but have significantly upgraded their starting lineup by going out and acquiring shooting guard Desmond Bane. He gives them the kind of shooting and ball handling they have so badly needed, and this will be the Knicks’ first look at the newest iteration of the Magic.

November 30th vs. Raptors

Much like Randle and DiVincenzo, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley are two players who were pivotal to the Knicks’ identity before they were traded for OG Anunoby. It should be a relatively easy win for the Knicks, but I won’t pass up an opportunity to watch the two former Knicks draftees come back to the arena they once called home.

December 19th vs. 76ers

I did just point out that the 76ers are not the conference favorites they once were. But a lot of that is because of injuries. When healthy, which isn’t often, this team still has the top-end talent to compete with and beat anyone. It’s hard to say what their starting roster will look like four months from now since Joel Embiid is reportedly still dealing with some knee issues and is already reportedly set to miss parts of training camp, and maybe even the preseason. But if Embiid and Paul George, who has had injury problems of his own, are healthy, this could be a tough matchup that could provide the Knicks with a watch-worthy challenge. And if Philadelphia turns out to be far from healthy, then, well, New York fans get to watch their team beat up on a team they clearly do not like.

December 25th vs. Cavaliers

Much like opening night, Christmas Day games are must-watch television for basketball fans. But this year, the implications are more than just a regular-season game during the holidays for the Knicks and their fans. New York will once again open up the festive day with a noon game at home, and do so against the aforementioned Cavaliers in what will be a tough test against a Cleveland team that will surely want to prove a point on the road on national television. I hate to overreact, but given the holiday, the opponent, and the potential implications, it could end up being the most important and watched games of the season.

January 2nd vs. Hawks

The “Trae Young owns the Knicks” narrative is among the most tired, not to mention inaccurate, ones in sports. Outside of his one playoff series against New York, Young has historically struggled to win against the Knicks, going just 7-17 against them in his career, and 4-7 at Madison Square Garden in the regular season. This will be another opportunity for the Knicks to not only beat Young once again, but it will also be a chance to look at the new look Hawks that acquired Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luke Kennard, and another infamous character in Knicks lore, Kristaps Porzingis. The Hawks have finally built a synergistic roster around Young, and this should be a fun battle between two good Eastern Conference teams featuring two of the more hated opponents returning to The Garden.

January 5th at Pistons

While Detroit hasn’t had the flashy offseasons that the Magic or Hawks have had, they remain a solid team. With how heated the playoff series against the Pistons got both on the court and on social media, this should be a fun rematch in what is sure to be a hostile environment.

February 1st vs Lakers

Even when the Knicks were bad, the Lakers coming into town felt like a special occasion. Now, with both teams hunting a championship and constructing rosters that are filled with stars and recognizable names, this nationally televised game should be circled. Luka Doncic, who has had some unbelievable performances against the Knicks, returns to The Garden to face off against former teammate Jalen Brunson, and LeBron James could be playing in his last game ever in New York. If this doesn’t scream must-watch, I don’t know what will.

February 4th vs Nuggets

After going 1-13 against the Nuggets between 2019 and 2022, the Knicks have completely turned the script, going 5-1 against them with two of those victories coming by 38 points and 27 points. But every chance you get to watch the Nuggets play is a chance to play Nikola Jokic. And that’s a treat if you’re a basketball fan. Plus, with Michael Porter Jr. now across the river in Brooklyn, the reloaded Nuggets, who acquired Cam Johnson, should once again be among the favorites in the league. It will be another tough, but valuable test against a West Coast opponent.

February 21st vs. Rockets

Kevin Durant likely has a few more years left, but he likely only has a few games left in The Garden. Love him or hate him (I know most of this fanbase hates him), you will regret it if you miss one of his last games playing in New York. Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that Houston comes into the season with a lot of expectations, too.

February 24th at Cavaliers

The Knicks’ first two matchups against the Cavaliers will come at home. And regardless of how those two games go, this will be a good opportunity for the Knicks to showcase what they can do against them on the road. And if it wasn’t clear, the NBA wants this to be a marquee matchup this year, as it will be the third nationally televised game between these two teams in as many games.

March 1st vs. Spurs

The Spurs may still be a couple years away from being true contenders, but with Victor Wembanyama coming into his third season, De’Aaron Fox playing in his first full season as a Spur, and rookie Dylan Harper set to take the stage, the Spurs should be a fun team to watch this season, and should be among the top of the League Pass teams. New York should be heavily favored in this game, but Wembanyama remains must-watch TV, and his return to The Garden, where he last scored 42 points on Christmas Day last year, is no different.

March 15 vs. Warriors

Okay, this will be my last “this could be one of the last times” rant. I swear. But the number of times Steph Curry will visit MSG after this season could be numbered- it can likely be counted on one hand. We Knicks fans, unfortunately, know what Curry is capable of in The Garden, but the sentimental side of me, and the basketball fan in me, couldn’t keep this one off the list.

March 29th at Thunder

Last season, we saw the Knicks not only compete with the Thunder but also look like the superior team for three quarters. And then the Thunder turned on the switch, while the Knicks simultaneously collapsed under pressure. If the Knicks truly have championship aspirations, which they 100% should, there’s a very good chance that the road goes through Oklahoma City. And if that is the case, they will need to be able to beat the Thunder, and do so in what’s often considered one of the most raucous crowds in the whole league. There’ll be about two weeks left in the regular season at this point, making this a very, very good indicator of how good these teams are, and in what kind of condition they’ll be in heading into the postseason. This nationally televised game could potentially be a Finals preview and may, in tandem with the Christmas Day game against the Cavaliers and the Lakers game in February, be one of the most highly anticipated games of the season.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...er-look-at-the-knicks-newly-released-schedule

 

[New York Knicks]

Important quirks, dates, and games in the Knicks’ 2025-26 schedule

On Thursday, after a few days of gradual reveals, the NBA schedule came out in full, aside from the two to-be-determined games in December pending the results of the NBA Cup. The Knicks now know where and when they’ll be playing the other 29 teams as they look to build on their Eastern Conference Finals appearance last season.

Kento put together a nice recap of the schedule here, but today I’m going to highlight individual games, stretches, and notable parts that you might miss glossing over the schedule, because let’s face it: a schedule where you play everyone multiple times doesn’t have much luster.

Opening Night/Home Opener – 10/22 vs. CLE​

The Knicks will open the 2025-26 regular season against the reigning No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers. Both meetings between the two leading contenders for the Eastern Conference at MSG will be on national television, as the two teams will reconvene on Christmas Day. Good early litmus test, hopefully it goes better than last year.

Holidays – 10/31 @ CHI, 12/25 vs. CLE, 12/31 @ SAS, 1/19 vs. DAL, 3/17 vs. IND​

If you’ve got kids, be sure to keep your go-to mobile app for Knicks basketball handy, as the Knicks open up group play in Chicago while you’re likely out trick-or-treating. As usual, the team will be playing at the World’s Most Famous Arena on Christmas Day, but they’ll also be heading out to Texas on New Year’s Eve as a nice segue into your New Year’s plans. They get Cooper Flagg’s first trip to MSG on MLK Day and a rematch of the Eastern Conference Finals in New York against the Pacers on St. Patty’s Day.

Longest Homestand – 7 games in early November​

After the Halloween road game in Chicago, the Knicks will play a seven-game homestand, their longest since another seven-gamer in January 2014. Most of these games will be on MSG, a rarity considering the team is tied for the league lead in nationally televised broadcasts.

Longest Road Trip – Two 5-gamers​

Immediately after that seven-game homestand, the team will play five consecutive games on the road, although four are on the East Coast. Whose idea was this? The other five-game trip will be the annual West Coast swing in March that sees the team go from Denver to Los Angeles to Utah to Indiana in eight days. Not great!

Oh yeah, the Knicks will be on the road a lot in the back half of the season. 30 of their last 52 games are on the road. From February 6 to March 13, they play 12 of 18 on the road.

NBA Cup – 10/31 @ CHI, 11/14 vs. MIA, 11/26 @ CHA, 11/28 vs. MIL​

The Knicks are one of two teams (Bucks) to advance to the knockout round in both years of the NBA Cup and will look to make it 3-for-3 this year, hoping to make it to Vegas for the first time. If they stay healthy and play to their talent, they should make it out of Group C. They’ll be favorites to beat the Bulls and Heat, and will get ample opportunity to drive up the point differential column in Charlotte (which they didn’t do last year). That Bucks game will be the difference on Black Friday.

If they move on, you know the drill. They will play on December 9 or 10 in the quarterfinals before hoping to make it to Vegas and play on 12/13 or 12/16. If they miss the knockout round (or lose in the quarterfinal), they can play on 12/11, 12/12, 12/14, or 12/15.

Vaunted Back-to-Backs​

Only 12 sets of back-to-backs this year! That’s the second-least in basketball. Other teams were not so fortunate, including the load-managing Sixers (16).

Of the back-to-back sets, they’ll have four sets where they don’t have to hop on a plane, including the yearly double dip in Los Angeles in March. They also play their final back-to-back in mid-March, giving them plenty of rest down the stretch. Here are some of the tougher B2Bs on the schedule:

12/18 @ Indiana – 12/19 vs. Philadelphia

1/14 @ Sacramento – 1/15 @ Golden State (they head back to MSG on 1/17, fyi)

1/27 vs. Sacramento – 1/28 @ Toronto

2/21 vs. Houston – 2/22 @ Chicago

3/17 vs. Indiana – 3/18 @ Memphis

Coffee Games​

Rejoice, there are only three games all season that start at 10:00 and zero that start later. Considering Peacock is doing 11:00 games on Tuesdays, we’re very fortunate. Here are all the start times past 9:00, which is where you’re likely to be watching the Knickerbockers past midnight:

11/19 @ Dallas (9:30, ESPN)

1/14 @ Sacramento (10:00)

1/15 @ Golden State (10:00, Prime Video)

3/9 @ LA Clippers (10:00, Peacock)

The latest start time at MSG this year will be an 8:30 tip on February 21st against the Rockets.

Notable Individual Games​

10/28 @ Milwaukee – This is the first NBC broadcast of the season for the Knicks. When was the last time the Knicks played on NBC? March 10, 2002, against the Lakers in Tinseltown, where Latrell Sprewell dropped 31 in a losing effort to Kobe and Shaq. The team will debut on Amazon Prime four days prior against the Celtics and will play their first-ever Peacock exclusive game on January 5th against the Pistons.

11/5 vs. Minnesota – Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo return to the Garden for the second (official) time since the blockbuster that brought Karl-Anthony Towns to New York. Anthony Edwards dominated the meeting in MSG last year. What’s next for an encore? (Note: KAT returns to Minnesota on 12/23)

1/5 @ Detroit: – The Knicks went 3-0 in the Motor City in the playoffs last year, and this is their first meeting of 2025-26. Have the young, feisty Pistons grown up to be more formidable or will they remain the ankle-biting pests they were last year?

1/9 @ Phoenix – Nothing is notable about this. All I wanted to tell you is that Jalen Brunson owns the city of Phoenix for some reason.

1/14 @ Sacramento – Newly minted head coach Mike Brown returns to the place he got fired after a substandard start to 2024-25. How will the Knicks look in this game?

2/1 vs. LA Lakers – Last year, the Knicks and Lakers finished up their February 1st game at MSG an hour before Luka Doncic arrived in the purple and gold. This year, it could be LeBron James’ final game at the World’s Most Famous Arena if the 40-year-old elects to retire at the end of the season. It’s a shame he never got to play 41 games here, he sure seems to love the arena.

3/15 vs. Golden State – Stephen Curry has not lost at MSG since his breakout performance in 2013. With many iconic moments here, let’s hope that we finally have his number.

3/29 @ Oklahoma City – After a March 18th meeting with the Grizzlies, the Knicks have an easy schedule over their last 11 games. Two of their most difficult matchups come on a road trip through the reigning champions and H-Town to close March. This will be their final big test before the playoffs.

4/12 vs. Charlotte – Game 82 was peaceful and full of Landry Shamet and Kevin McCullar Jr. hoops last year. The year before, the Knicks played overtime to secure the No. 2 seed. What will we get this year?

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...5-26-schedule-opening-night-christmas-nba-nbc

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: ‘He was getting cooked in the big role’

The summer is so damn hot and long, I can’t see the day of the new season’s tip-off.

We barely left the Summer League behind, and the EuroBasket is still over a week away from starting. And that comes way before training camp and pre-season games start.

Again, wake me up when September ends.

Jalen Brunson’s clutchness overshadowed KAT’s New York Knick playoff moment

“The game before I was hitting those shots, he comes back and he makes his game-winner look way better than mine.” pic.twitter.com/cba4smvwWE

— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) August 6, 2025

Karl-Anthony Towns​

On watching Carmelo Anthony and creating his own Knicks legacy:

“I mean, when I was growing up, I was watching you play. So, it was like, seeing you in the Garden, seeing the magical moments you made and everything, and kind of being able to make my own history there.”

On the Knicks reaching the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals:

“It’s special, you know. You never know that in 5 months you will get to the Conference Finals. Something that hasn’t been done in 25 years.”

On the fan reaction after beating Boston:

“They was lit, I ain’t gonna lie. To see them after that Boston Celtics series, that was special.”

On being part of Knicks history:

“It was something that, you know, you watch it on TV. Watching you play, and to be a part of that history is something that I could’ve never thought.”

Stephon Marbury​

On his relationship with Larry Brown during their time with the Knicks:

“I don’t think that he liked me. Because I wasn’t one of the guys that he could talk to in any kind of way. I stood up for myself, and he had to respect me — he didn’t like that. First of all, my father’s from Chattanooga, Tennessee; my mom is from New York — I didn’t come from a broken home. I’m a black kid from the ghetto, but I’m not that black kid from the ghetto that didn’t have any understanding.”

On Brown’s lack of respect during that season:

“The respect level wasn’t where it should’ve been. You can yell at me as much as you want if I’m not doing what I’m supposed to be doing. But if I’m doing my best, and I’m trying my hardest, and you trying to break me down. Now, that’s a little different.”

On the lesson learned from Brown:

“I learned what not to be from him. I’m a straight shooter. And I don’t have a problem with Larry Brown. But what happened, and what went on, that’s all gonna remain the same.”

On Brown’s business savvy in handling his Knicks exit:

“He showed that he was a great businessman in how he handled what he handled in New York. It wasn’t like he was there for 10, 15 years. Larry Brown was there for one year, and he left. 30 million dollars, one year. You go to New York, you get 10 million for one year, and do whatever you did that year, and then they buy you out the following year for 20 million dollars. He’s a great businessman.”

Kendrick Perkins​

On Karl-Anthony Towns being under the most pressure to deliver:

“When you talk about players, which players are under the most pressure to deliver? That’s Karl-Anthony Towns, like it’s time for him to deliver.”

On Towns’ talent and where he needs to improve:

“KAT is a walking bucket. He’s one of one. Arguably the best shooting bigs we’ve ever seen. He’s really, really skilled, but that’s not what he needs to correct. He needs to correct his ability to get up and down the floor, be able to slide those puppies, because he was getting cooked in the big role.”

On comparisons between KAT and Luka Doncic regarding fitness and a perceived lack of defense:

“It’s been a lot of criticism when it comes down to Luka Doncic and what he did defensively, and being in shape. Well, KAT falls in that category.”

Who's smokin in here? #UFC319 pic.twitter.com/I77OM4Leak

— UFC (@ufc) August 17, 2025

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...ulletin-he-was-getting-cooked-in-the-big-role

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Media Roundup: Brunson’s Rank, Brown’s Nine-Man Plan, and Ewing’s Shot-Blocking

It’s the dog days of August, but there are still a few morsels of Knicks content to chew on. The Athletic took stock of the NBA’s best lead guards (with Jalen Brunson landing in elite company) and offered a way-too-early depth chart prediction under new coach Mike Brown. Finally, NBA.com revisited Patrick Ewing’s shot-blocking dominance. Here we go!

Ranking the Best Point Guards

The Athletic released its rankings of the NBA’s best lead guards, and Knicks star Jalen Brunson landed in the second tier—just below Luka Dončić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Steph Curry.

Brunson was labeled “mostly a scorer,” but also “arguably the most clutch player in the league.” Arguably? Wasn’t he voted the Clutch Player of the Year last season? His dependability is one reason why his stock continues to climb: Jalen has turned late-game possessions into his personal stage. Knicks fans saw it firsthand all season and last year’s playoffs, when his poise and shot-making nearly carried the Knicks to the Finals.

On the list, Brunson ranked ahead of De’Aaron Fox, Trae Young, Damian Lillard, and Tyrese Maxey, among others. For a player dismissed as undersized and secondary in Dallas, the recognition shows just how far he’s come in New York.

With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined by an Achilles tear and Kyrie Irving’s durability always in question, Brunson has a real chance to tighten his grip on a top-three spot. For the Knicks, it’s more validation that they’ve struck gold.

An Early Look at Possible Rotation

Also at The Athletic, James Edwards III offered an early look at how Coach Brown might shape the Knicks’ rotation for 2025-26. The projected starting five: Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Mitchell Robinson.

The big question is Josh Hart. He started much of last year, but the Brunson-Bridges-Hart-Anunoby-Towns lineup struggled in the playoffs, posting a minus-6.2 net rating. By mid-postseason, Tom Thibodeau swapped Robinson in, stabilizing the defense. Edwards predicts Brown will keep Robinson as a permanent starter, leaning on his rim protection while sliding Towns to center in five-out looks when Guerschon Yabusele checks in.

That doesn’t diminish Hart’s importance. Brown is a known admirer of his hustle and connective play, and Hart is projected to be one of the first subs. But his move to the bench would reflect a defense-first approach more than any knock on his value.

As for depth, Edwards floated a nine-man rotation: Brunson, Bridges, Anunoby, Towns, Robinson, Hart, Miles McBride, Jordan Clarkson, and Yabusele. Sophomore Ariel Hukporti may get spot minutes, while Pacôme Dadiet could be eased in, too. The Knicks are still weighing veteran-minimum options, with Landry Shamet a possible backup guard.

The Knicks Top-Five Single-Season Block Performers

Finally, at NBA.com, the staff reviewed the Knicks’ top-five single-season block performers. Spoiler alert: All five are Patrick Ewing.

The Hall of Famer owns each of the franchise’s top five single-season block performances, underscoring his legacy as one of the NBA’s greatest shot blockers.

Big Pat’s peak came in 1990, when he averaged four blocks per game—one of only 16 seasons in league history to hit that mark. That year, he also scored a career-best 28.6 points per game, earned First Team All-NBA honors, and finished fifth in MVP voting.

The run didn’t stop there. In 1989, Ewing swatted 3.5 shots per game, ranking behind only Manute Bol and Mark Eaton. In 1991, he averaged 3.2 blocks, highlighted by a nine-block performance against the Jazz. His first three-block season came in 1988, when he paired his defensive dominance with a then-career-high 20.2 points per game. He capped the stretch in 1992, again averaging three while pulling down 11.2 rebounds per night.

For much of his time here, Ewing set the defensive standard in New York. More than three decades later, no Knick has come close to matching his consistency as an elite shot-blocking anchor. Mitchell Robinson might be a massive swatter, but his injury history will always be a blemish on his career. If he stays healthy this season, though….

If you’re curious, here are the top-10 Knicks for shot blocks per game, per Basketball-Reference.

1. Patrick Ewing 2.7
2. Kristaps Porziņģis 2.0
3. Mitchell Robinson 1.8
4. Marcus Camby 1.8
5. Joe Meriweather 1.6
6. Bob McAdoo* 1.4
7. Marvin Webster 1.3
8. Lonnie Shelton 1.3
9. Tyson Chandler 1.2
10. Charles Smith 1.2

Enjoy your week. And go Knicks.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...browns-nine-man-plan-and-ewings-shot-blocking

 

[New York Knicks]

Are people still sleeping on the Knicks too much?

There are still multiple questions surrounding this team. How successful will Mike Brown be in his first season as the Knicks’ coach? Can Mikal Bridges look more like the best version of himself? What will the starting lineup be? Can Mitchell Robinson stay healthy? How will Karl-Anthony Towns fare defensively in his second season in New York? And to be fair, all of those questions are valid ones to have. But the Knicks, who were just a couple of wins away from a finals appearance, addressed most of their needs and weaknesses during the offseason, and it has fans feeling optimistic even if the team is still an imperfect one.

But the same cannot be said about everyone outside of the Knicks fanbase. While there are plenty of pundits, reporters, and analysts who believe in the Knicks and their ability to be a potential finals team, there are also plenty of doubters. Now, the Knicks aren’t, and shouldn’t be, favorites to win it all, and the concerns surrounding this team are fair for the most part. That being said, there seems to be some disrespect surrounding this team still.

Last week, Bleacher Report ranked this team seventh in their latest NBA power rankings and eighth in their starting lineup power rankings. And that feels too low, even when factoring in the aforementioned question marks. The Thunder are coming off a championship and should only get better with another season of experience, so they should be a lock for the number one spot. But after that, it’s a complete toss-up.


I understand putting the Nuggets in at number two because they added Cam Johnson, and still have the best player in the world in Nikola Jokic. Putting the Rockets at number three feels a bit impulsive, but adding Kevin Durant, who is still one of the best offensive talents in the game, to one of the best defenses in the league is admittedly a hard case to argue against. And putting the Cavaliers at number five is more than reasonable since they are coming off of an incredibly dominant regular season that was followed up by a playoff run that was cut short mainly due to injuries.

But I have the Knicks in the same tier as the Nuggets, Rockets, and Cavaliers. At the very worst, they should be right behind them. But Bleacher Report put both Los Angeles teams ahead of them, and I think that’s just too low. Don’t get it twisted. The Clippers and the Lakers are both good teams with a lot going for them. The former added Chris Paul, Bradley Beal, and Brook Lopez to a team that won 50 games last season despite only having Kawhi Leonard for 37 of those games. They had multiple contributors on many a night, and were often led by a rejuvenated James Harden and Ivica Zubac, who continues to improve, and has thrust himself into the “best non-star big-man” conversations. That being said, it’s hard to place a team in the top five when their best player has averaged just 44 games in his last six seasons, and they also lost Norman Powell, who was an underrated part of that team, especially when Leonard was out.


The Lakers have a potent lineup as well, led by Luka Doncic and LeBron James. They were 18-10 with Doncic in the lineup, and looked unstoppable at times. And the addition of Deandre Ayton, along with Doncic’s reportedly healthier and leaner look, should be reasons to be optimistic. But James is yet another year older, and we’ve yet to see the two get the most out of each other. Ayton could end up putting up career-high numbers playing next to Doncic, James, and Austin Reaves, but he’s also just as likely to leave you scratching your head, as he’s been notorious for letting teams and fanbases down with subpar play and disappointing efforts. There is only one ball to go around, and this team is filled with three players who need the ball in their hands to thrive. And the rest of the team is made up of solid, but not great, role players that leave me asking who will be the defensive stopper and knockdown shooter. Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt are key pieces, but both have their limitations and have often left Lakers fans wanting more.


At the end of the day, power rankings mean very little. And offseason power rankings? Well, they don’t matter whatsoever. And truth to be told, there is a world where the Knicks’ new coaching staff doesn’t get this team to the heights it is capable of, while the Leonard-led Clippers and the big three of the Lakers, cruise past the Knicks. But I just have a hard time seeing the Knicks as anything but a top-five team both on paper and off of the fact that they just won more games than both the Lakers and Clippers, despite having a worse team with a coach that did very little to optimize the offensive talent of the roster.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...-people-still-sleeping-on-the-knicks-too-much

 

[New York Knicks]

REPORT: Knicks Monitoring Malik Beasley As He Clears Federal Investigation

Former Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley’s name has been cleared from a federal gambling investigation, and the New York Knicks are among the teams considering the sharpshooter as a free-agent target to fill one of their final roster spots as Beasley resumes his free agency process.

Attorneys for Beasley told The Detroit News that the player is “no longer a target” of the probe conducted by the Eastern District of New York. The 28-year-old guard was never charged, but the mere association with a federal investigation reasonably put his free agency on hold and cost him a reported three-year, $42 million agreement with the Pistons.

“Months after this investigation commenced, Malik remains uncharged and is not the target of this investigation,” attorney Steve Haney said. “An allegation with no charge, indictment, or conviction should never have the catastrophic consequence this has caused Malik.”

Knicks are among teams that had done background work on Malik Beasley’s situation, how likely/unlikely a suspension in 2025-26 was for the free agent. ESPN reports that Beasley is no longer a target of federal gambling investigation. NYK currently has vet min to offer free agents

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) August 22, 2025

SNY’s Ian Begley reported on Friday that the Knicks had previously done background work on Beasley’s situation in anticipation of this outcome, and they have ramped up their efforts now that the news is official.

“Malik Beasley is reportedly no longer a target of the federal gambling investigation that prevented the free agent guard from signing with a team this summer, and the Knicks have done some background work on the bench scorer.

“The Knicks are among the teams that have done background work on Beasley’s situation and the likelihood of a suspension during the 2025-26 NBA season.“ — SNY’s Ian Begley

Jake Fischer of The Stein Line confirmed Begley’s report that New York has maintained interest dating back to its playoff series against Detroit last season.

“The Knicks, meanwhile, have three open roster spaces and have been mentioned as a possible home for Ben Simmons or Brogdon as well as Landry Shamet.

“Yet New York has also been cited by SNY’s Ian Begley as a team that could pursue Malik Beasley after ESPN reported Friday that Beasley is no longer the target of a federal gambling investigation.

“I’m told that the Knicks have maintained a level of interest in Beasley since the teams met in the first round of the playoffs in May and now the sharpshooter appears poised to become an unexpected late-summer free agent of note after the launch of the investigation just as free agency was about to commence led Detroit to scrap its plans to sign him to a new three-year, $42 million deal.” — Jake Fischer

Beasley appeared in all 82 regular-season games for the Pistons last season, averaging 16.3 points and shooting 41.6 percent from three-point range on more than nine attempts per game. He finished second in Sixth Man of the Year voting and trailed only Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards in total three-pointers made.

The Knicks, however, can only offer Beasley a veteran minimum contract worth $3.7 million because of cap restrictions. Other suitors, such as Detroit and the Indiana Pacers, could offer him much more lucrative options if they want to, although it’s unclear to what distance other franchises—including the Pistons—are willing to go given Beasley’s recent issues, even if he’s been cleared of any wrongdoing.

Adding Beasley would easily be considered another masterful move by the Knicks following the landing of Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele, who, if I’m honest, I considered to be impossible/dream targets not long before they came to Manhattan for real.

Beasley would give the Knicks one of the most reliable high-volume shooters available and immediate bench scoring and a bona fide off-the-pine microwave. It’s an obvious long shot to even consider this a realistic scenario, but hey, at the end of the day, it will all depend on Beasley’s priorities and whether he opts for a shot at the title or if he simply wants to grab the biggest bag.

"People were saying some crazy things in the media… people judging me… I'll tell you one thing, I got a chip on my shoulder. I'm ready to destroy anybody in front of me, I'm ready to prove again that I belong in this league."

– Malik Beasleypic.twitter.com/GYFmrYLA0l

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 7, 2025

Beasley spoke earlier this month, claiming he’s ready to prove he still belongs after months away from the spotlight.

“People were saying some crazy things in the media… people judging me… I’ll tell you one thing. I got a chip on my shoulder. I’m ready to destroy anybody in front of me,” Beasley said in his Snapchat earlier this month. “I’m ready to prove again that I belong in this league.”

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...ng-malik-beasley-after-clearing-investigation

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Trade for G League-Bound Dink Pate

The New York Knicks are doubling down on their investment in Dink Pate’s development, bringing the teenage guard under their organizational umbrella.

On Friday, the Westchester Knicks announced that they had acquired the returning player rights to Pate from the Mexico City Capitanes in exchange for Boo Buie, in a trade that could lead to a two-way contract for Pate.

Westchester Knicks acquire rights to Dink Pate from Mexico City pic.twitter.com/Nxo1wl6T23

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) August 22, 2025

The move comes weeks after the Knicks signed Pate to an Exhibit 10 contract for Summer League, where he flashed his potential.

The 19-year-old appeared in five Summer League games, averaging 9.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, while shooting 40.0 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from three. Pate had his best game on July 19, putting up 20 points, 10 rebounds, four threes, and two blocks against the Washington Wizards.

Pate is no stranger to the G League system, mind you. The Dallas native first bypassed his senior year of high school to join the G League Ignite in 2023, becoming the youngest professional player in U.S. history at 17, a mark that surpassed Scoot Henderson’s record.


After Ignite folded, Pate landed with the Capitanes in Mexico City, where he averaged 10.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists over 34 games last season, playing 27 minutes per game. In 65 G League games across two seasons, Pate has averaged 9.1 points, 4.1 boards, and 2.7 dimes per game in 25 MPG.

Pate is a career 38% shooter from the field (9.3 FGA), 24% from three (3.1 3PA), and 64.5% from the charity stripe (1.2 FTA). He kept up slightly better percentages during last season’s Tip-Off Tournamente with the Capitanes, slashing 44.0/40.4/72.7 in 16 games playing 20.5 minutes per contest.

After acquiring his rights, the Knicks can now keep Pate in the fold through Westchester while considering him for one of their three open two-way roster slots.

It’s obvious that New York has a freaking loaded roster, or at least one of the strongest six-man units in the NBA. That said, depth has been an issue, and that won’t change as long as the top-heavy rotation and its high-salaried pieces stay there—which, in all honesty, let’s hope that’s the case so they can keep the Knicks’ championship window open.

By landing the raw Pate and his sky-high upside, however, the Knicks are betting on a promising long-term project and making a future play that simply carries little to no risk given what the franchise gave the Capitanes in return.

Stashing Pate in Westchester will give the player and the franchise time to evaluate his readiness for the NBA without immediate pressure, while keeping the option open to elevate him onto a two-way deal if his progress continues, perhaps even handing him his NBA debut throughout the upcoming regular season if new honcho Mike Brown wants to.

On a final, related note, New York also holds rights to Mohamed Diawara and Kevin McCullar Jr. for those two-way slots.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/knicks-news/73203/knicks-trade-for-g-league-bound-dink-pate

 

[New York Knicks]

2025-26 Player Preview: Mikal Bridges

Over the last 12 months, there hasn’t been a player more enigmatic and polarizing than Mikal Bridges. And it all started the very instant he became a Knick. When New York’s acquisition of Bridges was first announced, it was just minutes before a large divide not only within the Knicks fanbase, but within the entirety of the league surfaced. Some thought that while five first-round picks were a lot for someone of Bridges’ caliber, it was the perfect opportunity to complement a great roster with one of the best three-and-d players in the league while keeping their superstar point guard happy by pairing him up with yet another former Villanova teammate.

But there were also just as many people who thought that the Knicks had undone all of their previous years of patience by overpaying for a solid, but non-player player-something that many believed would be the only fair return for a package that included so many picks.

As the season started and his time as a Knick grew longer and longer, so did the list of people who traded in their “I believe in Bridges” card for a membership in the doubter club. What truly made watching Bridges’ season so frustrating, though, is the fact that we saw glimpses of the Bridges we thought we were getting. There were nights, even multiple game stretches, where the former Phoenix Sun and Brooklyn Net looked like the premier perimeter defender who was capable of going off for 20 to 25 points on any given night. But there just weren’t nearly enough of those nights to warrant the games where he looked completely lost and broken–of which there were many.


Now, Bridges did his best to redeem himself in the postseason, where he made maybe two of the most memorable and important plays of the entire season in the Boston series when he capped off back-to-back comeback victories on the road with a pair of game-winning defensive plays. But when the season came to a disappointing and frustrating end at the hands of the Indiana Pacers for a second straight year, questions surrounding Bridges, his play, and his future in New York quickly arose. When the dust and the immediate emotions of the season coming to an end settled, people wondered once again, and louder than ever, why Bridges had struggled so much, and if he had a long-term future as a Knick.


Truth be told, those questions still don’t have clear answers. We won’t know until the trade deadline if Bridges will be here come playoff time next year, and we won’t know at least for another few months if Bridges’ struggles came from a new environment, incompatibility with Tom Thibodeau, or if this is just who he is.

But if I were to guess, I do think Bridges plays better than he did last season. That isn’t to say the overall numbers look considerably better per se. If you look at his counting stats, they were around what most people would’ve predicted. 17.6 PPG, 3.7 APG, and 3.2 RPG on 50% shooting from the field is a very solid player to have as your third, and on some nights, fourth option.


And honestly, it just comes down to me just having a hard time believing that a player who was always a good defender, and a 38.4% three-point shooter in the four seasons prior, will stay this inconsistent on both sides of the ball. Confident? That may be a bit too strong a word. But I am hopeful.

I am hopeful that in his second year in New York, playing alongside best friends Josh Hart and the aforementioned Brunson, Bridges can be a bit more comfortable and confident. I am also hopeful that his teammates, after a full season of playing alongside Bridges, can also get better at putting him in the best positions to succeed. And last but not least, I am hopeful that incoming head coach, Mike Brown, can implement a more fast-paced and ball-movement-focused offense that will keep Bridges more active and engaged.

And with that added activity and involvement on offense, there is the optimism that he’ll be a bit more consistently present on the defensive end as well. Because again, it’s not like Bridges forgot how to play defense, or that he suffered a major injury that would limit or impact his mental or physical capacity to be the defender we saw him be in Phoenix. And again, we saw occasional sightings of the old, or I guess I should say younger, Bridges. Whether it’s the game-winning blocks in the regular season, the handful of moments he got up in Trae Young’s face and defended with the requisite physicality, or his aforementioned defense against the Celtics in the playoffs, we all know that it’s in there somewhere.


The key for this coaching staff, and the players, will be unlocking Bridges’ mental and physical ability to keep that up nightly, and when the playoff comes, on a possession-by-possession basis. It’s probably the most important piece to the Knicks’ championship puzzle outside of maximizing Karl-Anthony Towns’ offensive abilities.

My final prediction for Bridges is that he looks better and puts up similar, maybe better numbers, but on better efficiency, while also being a better defender. I will say, though, that I’m not sure he ever fully returns to the best version of himself. And I’d be surprised if he went through a full season without having the kinds of head-scratching, head-tilting, and headache-inducing stretches that last season was riddled with. But I, partly in an attempt to speak it into existence, am going out on a limb and saying that we’ll see much less of it with the hope that Brown and his coaching staff can make Bridges’ offensive effectiveness and aggressiveness one of their priorities.

There are admittedly a lot of things that need to go right. Bridges needs to find the mental toughness to put last season behind him. He needs to find the balance of buying into his role as a Knick while also finding the confidence to stay aggressive and engaged. He needs to attack closeouts more. He needs to get to the rim more, instead of settling for the midrange shot, no matter how automatic the shot feels at times. He needs to regain his confidence and effectiveness from three. And he needs to defend in a way that he remains a net positive on the floor even when his shot isn’t falling.

Now, I know that’s a lot to ask for, but they’re all things we’ve seen from Bridges at times. Will we see him do all those things every game? Doubtful. Is he going to become an All-Star? Unlikely. But we just need him to get close to the connective third or fourth option who can hit open shots, defend on the perimeter, and do so more times than not. And if, yes, that’s a big if, he can do that, then the Knicks have a really good shot at playing in the finals. Overall, I see him averaging 18+ PPG, and shooting a bit worse overall, but shooting 47% from the field, 37% from three, and 85% from the line, but doing so looking happier, more engaged, and more confident.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/knicks-analysis/73241/2025-26-player-preview-mikal-bridges

 

[New York Knicks]

Knicks Bulletin: ‘Being a Knick, you have a sense of pride’

It’s that basketball time of the offseason that makes in-season “slow news Sundays” look like the busiest time of the year.

Good for yall basketball nuts, Eurobasket tips off in 24 hours. Gotta make the most of it, with French Captain Yabusele leading his nation this summer.

Here’s some of the latest we’ve heard here and there.

Guerschon Yabusele, in an interview this weekend with @BasketNews_com, on what drew him to New York and the Knicks:

"When they go on the court together, it's like they try to kill the other team…. So, for me, it was just natural, because I wanted to be part of this. So, to be… pic.twitter.com/xoKxmKtce8

— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) August 24, 2025

Guerschon Yabusele​

On the Knicks’ recent chemistry and why he joined the team:

“First of all, you can tell that they have a special bonding between each other. When they go on the court together, it’s like they try to kill the other team. They know each other pretty well. They made it so far this year in the playoffs, but year after year, you can just see their progress. So, for me, it was just natural, because I wanted to be part of this. It’s one of the toughest crowds, people know it. So, to be able to go there and be part of this is just something special.”

On what made his NBA comeback successful:

“I would say, first of all, the energy. People love the energy that I bring on the court – ‘dying’ for the ball, diving for the ball. Just fight through it for 48 minutes. It doesn’t matter who win or lose, just keep the same motivation and make people enjoy the game.”

On choosing to buy himself out of Real Madrid to rejoin the NBA:

“As a young kid, going to the NBA was a dream. So, I wanted to go back and make sure I had a chance to explore and play.”

On chasing gold with the French national team at the upcoming Eurobasket:

“A gold medal with France would be special. I’ve been playing with the team for years, and every time we get silver. So I think gold would be the next goal for us. But, of course, winning an NBA championship is also something special. I’ve never been part of something like that. Both would feel great.”

Bright lights. Big stage. Knicks pride.

Jordan Clarkson is ALL IN

(via KITH) pic.twitter.com/Z1023P5FR7

— NBA Philippines (@NBA_Philippines) August 25, 2025

Jordan Clarkson​

On the pride and energy of playing in New York:

“I just think the energy in the arena, this is a place that everybody wakes up and wants to play, wants to be a part of it. So I think being a Knick in that sense, you have a sense of pride. You know it’s love around the city always for the Knicks.”

On mindset and motivation heading into the season:

“I think when you go out there, be confident and show love and really play for the city and embrace it and wear that on your skin when you’re out there on the floor and play with pride and know it’s bigger than yourself and his team. I feel like that’s when you really are engaged and want to take it to the next level. And I’m ready for it all and super excited, and ready to get to it.”

Blake Griffin predicts the Knicks play versus the Nuggets in the 2026 NBA Finals do you agree?! pic.twitter.com/BncDFX6DYi

— Post Moves with Candace Parker & Aliyah Boston (@PostMovesShow) August 22, 2025

Blake Griffin (Former NBA Player)​

On his prediction for the 2026 NBA Finals:

“I think Denver got better this summer. Denver took Oklahoma City to seven games. I think Denver gets to the Finals in the West. And I mean, I think it’s New York or Cleveland in the East. I’ll take New York. Maybe they learn from some mistakes, they make a few tweaks.”

Donte DiVincenzo (Former Knicks Player)​

On defending Tom Thibodeau to his new Timberwolves teammates:

“You motherfers better not say Tom Thibodeau (is the worst NBA coach). He’s the f*ing best.”

Allan Houston (Former NBA Player)​

On the 90s boasting the best shooting guards in NBA history, notably MJ and Tracy McGrady:

“In our era of the 90s, I think I’m biased, but I don’t know if there’s a better era for the two guard. You have your obvious, your Michael, Tracy McGrady was probably the one that kind of stands out besides Michael.”

On other prolific 1990s shooting guards:

“You can go down the line from Vince Carter to Stackhouse, Ray Allen. I mean, even when I was younger, Joe Dumars and Doug West, Ricky Pierce.”

On the scoring intensity of the 1990s era:

“I mean, you go throughout the 90s, and you can just look at every team in the 90s that position, they were assassins, and they knew that. You knew that that’s every night, there was going to be some heat. I think it was harder to score in the 90s.”

Eric Musselman comments on Mike Brown’s handling of new pressures #EricMusselman #MikeBrown https://t.co/OREilJ5bM7

— TalkBasket (@TalkBasket) August 22, 2025

Eric Musselman (USC Head Coach)​

On Mike Brown’s preparation and coaching style:

“He is super-detailed, super-organized. That year with the Lakers, his playbook, he wants to make sure it’s color-coded properly. He got a little bit of an NFL, detail-oriented mindset. … Training camp, the drills and the precision … that was real detailed as well.”

On Brown’s experience having him ready for the Knicks job:

“I just think his experience of being in Cleveland and who he coached there (LeBron James) and then I think the fact that he coached in L.A. and it’s the Lakers. And with the media market in the Bay Area (with the Warriors), even though he was just an assistant, you can kind of sit back and watch how Coach (Steve Kerr) handles pressure and coaching in playoff situations. And he’s at a perfect age. He has a lot of things going for him.”

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...letin-being-a-knick-you-have-a-sense-of-pride

 

[New York Knicks]

“I shot myself in the foot”: Dawn Staley opens up on Knicks interview for HC job

Dawn Staley has confirmed she formally interviewed for the New York Knicks head coaching job this summer, admitting she would have accepted the position if it had been offered to her.

Speaking on the “Post Moves” podcast with Candace Parker and Aliyah Boston, the South Carolina head coach confirmed she was part of the Knicks’ candidate pool, as rumored earlier this offseason.

“I interviewed for the Knicks. It was the same interview that everybody else that was in their candidate pool got. Same thing,” Staley said. “I thought I did pretty well. I was well prepared.”

Dawn Staley speaks on coaching in the NBA, saying “if the Knicks would have offered me the job, I would have had to do it.” pic.twitter.com/BnBGEskmNx

— Post Moves with Candace Parker & Aliyah Boston (@PostMovesShow) August 27, 2025

Staley said she made it clear to the Knicks brass that she would have accepted the offer if chosen for the position.

“If the Knicks would’ve offered me the job, I would have had to do it,” Staley said. “Not just for me, it’s for women. To break open that door. And it’s the New York Knicks. I’m from Philly, but it’s the freakin’ New York Knicks.”

However, Staley acknowledged that her pointed questions during the interview may have hurt her chances at landing the job. Staley pressed the Knicks leaders on whether they were prepared for the scrutiny that would come with hiring the NBA’s first full-time female head coach and all of the questions the organization will inevitably face.

“If you hired me as the first female coach in the NBA, how would it impact your daily job? Because it would,” Staley said as for what she asked the Knicks during her interview. “There’s going to be the media, there’s going to be all this stuff that you’ll have to deal with that you didn’t have to deal with when you hire a male. That got them to thinking. I felt the energy change after that.

“So, I shot myself in the foot by being inquisitive, asking all those darn questions.”

The Knicks ultimately hired former Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown (also of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers) after also speaking with Taylor Jenkins, James Borrego, and Micah Nori, as well as getting denied from interviewing a few already-employed head coaches, just as No. 1 target Jason Kidd.

Although league sources told The Athletic that Staley impressed the Knicks brass during her interview, ultimately she was not considered a finalist for the job, whether that was because of her questions and PR concerns, or anything else.

Staley, who has coached South Carolina since 2008, has won three national championships and four Naismith Coach of the Year awards.

The college head coach remains one of the most decorated figures in women’s basketball and during her appearance on the podcast she made clear that it’s the NBA who must be “ready” for a female head coach, not the other way around.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...taley-opens-up-on-knicks-interview-for-hc-job

 

[New York Knicks]

2025-26 Player Preview: Josh Hart

Josh Hart’s season played a big part in the rollercoaster 2024-25 Knicks season for multiple reasons. A lot of what the Knicks did and didn’t do well stemmed from Hart’s presence on the team. And that isn’t a knock on who Hart is as a person, teammate, or player. But it is a knock on the way he was used, who he was used with, how much he was used, and what that ultimately meant, not just for Hart’s play, but the play of his teammates as well.

While many, including myself, begged the Knicks to start Deuce McBride next to Jalen Brunson, Hart started the season on fire, effectively shutting up a lot of people. He was playing his usual high-effort brand of basketball, rebounding at a high rate, and being the egoless connective role player that the starting lineup so badly needed, all while shooting a surprising 39.3% from three on 3.5 attempts per game through 32 games.

But when the calendar turned, so did the way opposing teams played him, and the Knicks, which effectively changed the trajectory of the season. Teams were putting their bigs and rim protectors on Hart, sagging off of him to help on to Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, and daring Hart to beat them. And as his shot started to regress, so did the Knicks’ offense. For the remainder of the season, and almost the entirety of the playoffs, Tom Thibodeau stuck with Hart despite pleas for a change, which led to fans turning on the former fan favorite.


His defense had taken a step back, and we saw him make significantly more mistakes on that end of the floor. And offensively, while he tried to make the right play and continue playing selflessly, his lack of outside shooting, combined with his indecisiveness and lack of aggressiveness, led to him being a liability.

But heading into the 2025-26 season, the hope is that Hart returns to a bench role. If head coach Mike Brown can land on a starting lineup that includes either Deuce McBride or Mitchell Robinson as the fifth man instead of Hart, it should do wonders for all parties involved. The starting lineup should either improve significantly offensively with the former or improve significantly defensively from the latter. And as for Hart? Well, a return to the bench should allow him to be the best version of himself- one that thrives on being a one-man fastbreak starting rebounding machine, capable of wreaking havoc, and being a secondary playmaker.

No longer tasked with playing around Brunson, having to be one of the few guys on the team looking for Towns on trailing threes, or needing to constantly find ways to get Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby involved, all of the best parts of Hart should be unlocked again. Regardless of who the second unit ends up being, fans should be excited about the prospect of Hart returning to the player we saw in years prior. Playing alongside Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele gives him multiple outside shooting outlets to take advantage of. If Robinson gets the nod as the starter, McBride only adds to that spacing in the second unit. And if Brown decides to go with McBride as the starter, Hart and Robinson will undoubtedly make up the best bench rebounding combo in the league.


Much like my prediction for Mikal Bridges, I don’t expect Hart’s number to improve much, if at all. In fact, with the assumed move to the bench, we likely see a drop in production statistically. But I do expect him to be better in almost every facet of the game if he can come off the bench and not worry so much about playing for and around the starters constantly. I expect him to be closer to the best version of himself. I expect him to be a better defender. I expect him to look to score more. And I expect him to be the heart and soul of the team that we all fell in love with.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/knicks-analysis/73267/2025-26-player-preview-josh-hart

 

[New York Knicks]

EXCLUSIVE: Knicks Guard Finds a New Lens at the US Open

The US Open brings celebrities from around the world to Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens to see their favorite tennis stars compete, and occasionally, other athletes also participate in the festivities.

Coco Gauff won her second-round match of the US Open on Thursday night against Donna Vekic in Arthur Ashe Stadium, and a New York City basketball favorite was in the building, showcasing one of his other talents. New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet said he was given the opportunity to take photos at the US Open.

“I’ve always been interested in photography, and this is something I’ve been pursuing, and they’ve been super generous in letting me come on board and get to shoot for the week,” he said.

He mentioned several other professional athletes who are also photographers, including retired NFL running back Marshawn Lynch, former MLB outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., and former professional MLB pitcher Randy Johnson.

“There’s a lot of crossover in NBA photography and a lot of other sports, so Jenn with USTA, she and I knew of each other, and our players’ union connected us,” he said about how the opportunity was arranged.

Other NBA stars have been spotted watching matches at the US Open in past years, like Juwan Howard, Dwyane Wade, and Josh Hart. Shamet’s former teammate when he played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Jimmy Butler, also participated in the US Open activities in 2023.

Shamet was selected by the 76ers as the 26th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. According to the 2018 NBA Draft notes, he was only the fourth player from Wichita State selected in the first round in the common era of the NBA Draft, joining Cliff Levingston (1982), Antoine Carr (1983), and Xavier McDaniel (1985).

CBS Sports listed Shamet as one of the top 10 rookies in the NBA at the conclusion of the 2018-2019 NBA season, placing 9th, just ahead of Knicks Center Mitchell Robinson. According to nba.com, Shamet was also a top leader in 3-pointers during the 2018-2019 season.

Last season, he was a leader for the Knicks in 3-point percentage, ranking third with 39.7% and averaged 5.7 points and 1.2 rebounds in 15.2 minutes per game. He last appeared in Game Six of the NBA Eastern Conference finals and scored 12 points with the second unit. His contract with New York was a one-year deal, signed on December 23, 2024. There is still a good chance that the team will re-sign the veteran before the start of the upcoming campaign.

What’s next for Landry?

“Figure free agency out and the start of season number eight in the NBA,” he said.

Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/knicks-news/73311/exclusive-knicks-at-us-open