New York KnicksThe Knicks must follow up on their title
NBA champions in 2026, the Knicks bring back their core around Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby.
Listen to this story
Synthetic English voice · 5 min 53 s
NBA champions in 2026, the Knicks bring back their core around Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby. Continuity is an advantage when defending a title. Replacing Mitchell Robinson and managing a long season are nonetheless concrete questions to answer before anyone can think about another victorious spring.
The starting point: a title after 53 wins
New York finished third in the East with 53 wins and 29 defeats in the regular season, then won the 2026 NBA Finals. Mike Brown keeps a group whose main players now share experience at the highest level. The challenge is to carry over the habits that worked in the playoffs without treating that success as a level that is automatically available throughout the following season.
per game
per game
per game
The summer: preserving the core, replacing Robinson
Andre Drummond joins the Knicks to strengthen the frontcourt rotation after Mitchell Robinson's departure for Boston. Ariel Hukporti and Jeremy Sochan have also left the squad. The main reference points remain Brunson, Towns, Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart. Landry Shamet and Jose Alvarado also stay on. The fringe places have drawn several veterans to camp, so the dated squad list should not be mistaken for a final rotation or for a guaranteed contract for everyone.
- →Andre DrummondAndre Drummond · arrival
- ←Mitchell Robinson · departure
- ←Ariel Hukporti · departure
- ←Jeremy Sochan · departure
The group's offensive benchmarks
2025–26 regular season, all teams combined. Documented selection of players with at least ten games; not an exhaustive ranking. The new signings posted these numbers before they arrived.
Brunson to lead, Towns to add variety
Jalen Brunson
Brunson produced 26 points and 6.8 assists per game over 74 appearances in 2025–2026. Towns contributed 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds in 75 games. That complementarity allows New York to alternate between offence started by the point guard and sequences that run more through the frontcourt. Bridges and Anunoby then have to benefit from the defence being pulled out of shape, while Hart can link plays with his rebounding and passing. The quality of the collective will depend on that ball movement when Brunson draws two defenders.
22 % of the team's scoring average
25 % of the team's assists average
Ratios of per-game averages for 2025–26, not official shares of totals. Player and team have different numbers of games; the new signing may have played for another club.
The projected starting five and life for the second unit
Our season projection brings together Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns. It describes possible roles, not an official announcement. Drummond would allow the use of an extra centre and a change in Towns' position depending on the opponent. Miles McBride and Alvarado offer ball-handling relief; Shamet and Jordan Clarkson give other scoring options. Mohamed Diawara has to earn minutes on the wing and in the frontcourt. The ability of these players to hold their own in stretches will be useful in spreading the load for the starters.
The other rotation options
SNA season projection, not an official starting five or a guaranteed opening-night line-up. Roles and availability are detailed in the text and the dated update.
The three-point shot
2025–26 averages, all teams combined. Documented selection: minimum of ten games and at least one attempt per game. Red line: club average, 37.3%.
Availability: status as of 15 October 2026
Jalen Brunson · Uncertain (day-to-day). Karl-Anthony Towns · Uncertain (day-to-day). Josh Hart · Uncertain (day-to-day). OG Anunoby · Uncertain (day-to-day). Mikal Bridges · Uncertain (day-to-day). These statuses relate to preparation and may change. They guarantee neither availability for the opener nor the choice of starting five.
The squad: 21 players
List of 21 players recorded at camp on 15 October 2026. Positions are those on the official list; versatile players can fill several roles. This snapshot includes fringe players and does not prejudge the final squad or minutes.
| Player | Status | Pts | Reb | Ast | 3PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guards | |||||
| Jaden Akins | – | – | – | – | |
| Jordan Clarkson | – | – | – | – | |
| Miles McBride | – | – | – | – | |
| Josh Hart | Doubtful | 12 | 7.4 | 4.8 | 41.3 % |
| Jose Alvarado | – | – | – | – | |
| Kevin McCullar Jr. | – | – | – | – | |
| Jalen Brunson | Doubtful | 26 | 3.3 | 6.8 | 36.9 % |
| Tyler Kolek | – | – | – | – | |
| Ochai Agbaji | – | – | – | – | |
| Landry Shamet | – | – | – | – | |
| Centres and big men | |||||
| Andre Drummond | New signing | 6.4 | 8.4 | 1.3 | 35.6 % |
| James Wiseman | – | – | – | – | |
| Tony Bradley | – | – | – | – | |
| Drew Eubanks | – | – | – | – | |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | Doubtful | 20.1 | 11.9 | 3 | 36.8 % |
| Forwards and utility players | |||||
| Pacome Dadiet | – | – | – | – | |
| O.G. Anunoby | Doubtful | 16.7 | 5.2 | 2.2 | 38.6 % |
| Bruce Brown | – | – | – | – | |
| Mikal Bridges | Doubtful | 14.4 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 37.1 % |
| Mohamed Diawara | – | – | – | – | |
| Tyler Nickel | – | – | – | – | |
2025–26 averages, all teams combined. "–": unverified data, or threshold of ten games and one three-point attempt not met. Training-camp group, not a final rotation. Statuses are as of 15 October, with no guarantee for opening night.
Strengths and risks: keeping the champions' balance
Shared experience, Brunson's creation and the defensive assignments of Anunoby and Bridges make for solid foundations. New York also come off a regular season in which they shot 37.3% from three. The work to be done inside remains considerable: Drummond replaces a player whose defensive habits were already embedded in the group. The Knicks will have to check their coverages and rim protection with different combinations. Depth at the big positions, possible absences and consistency of effort will weigh as heavily as the nights when the shots fall.
The pillars
- The champion's core retained.
- Brunson and Towns to vary the attack.
- Shared playoff experience.
Areas to work on
- Replace Robinson's reference points.
- Sustain the big-man minutes over the long haul.
- Maintain consistency in the rotations.
The ambition: staying in position to defend the title
Another run to the Finals is a legitimate ambition for the reigning champions. It will start with a favourable seeding in the East and the ability to stay competitive through changes in the rotation. For Brown, the first months will have to be used to maintain the team's reference points and develop the support options. The 2026 title is in the bank; the repeat remains an objective to be built, against a conference whose main rivals have also changed.
Another run to the Finals is a legitimate ambition for the defending champions.
Roles and combinations will have to turn those ambitions into a collective reality.
New York open at home against the Philadelphia 76ers on 21 October at 0:00 in Brazzaville. The game is scheduled for 20 October in the United States. The preseason that precedes it does not count towards the regular-season record. Find fixtures and results afterwards on the SNA NBA calendar.
21 October at 00:00, Brazzaville time · match centre
- The team’s live schedule appears here.
Countdown to tip-off.