The New York Knicks came close to fulfilling their dream NBA season in 2024-25.
From that basketball year, the Knicks were determined to win it all, pulling the trigger by acquiring star big man Karl-Anthony Towns and sacrificing most of their precious assets just to obtain Mikal Bridges.
New York managed to win 51 games to secure the No. 3 seed of the Eastern Conference. They dispatched the promising Detroit Pistons in the postseason opener and ultimately ended the reign of the defending champ Boston Celtics in the second round.
It appeared that the Knicks were destined to win it all until they met the Indiana Pacers in the Conference Finals, ultimately enduring a crushing six-game downfall.
Heading to the 2025-26 season, the Knicks are desperate to finally get over the hump and make it to the NBA Finals. And for this goal, they obtained unexpected support from their public enemy No. 1 back in the old days.
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During the NBA on NBC’s conference call, Pacers great and current analyst Reggie Miller dropped intriguing comments that may raise the eyebrows across the entire Knicks fanbase: the East might eventually run through the Big Apple for this year.
“I will say this, cause people always think that I hate on the Knicks, which I do not, I love the Knicks,” Miller said, who notably tormented New York from their rivalry in the ‘90s. “If the Knicks cannot get out of the Eastern Conference this year, something is wrong!”
After coming up short from the past playoffs, the Knicks delivered significant offseason moves. They moved on from Tom Thibodeau by hiring Mike Brown as their new head coach, and made several good moves to fortify their bench by signing French standout Guerschon Yabusele and former Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson.
Upon the Pacers and the Boston Celtics’ competitive downgrade from the Achilles injuries of Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum, the Eastern Conference is now up for grabs with Cleveland, Orlando and possibly Atlanta as several potential top contending teams that could emerge.
Nevertheless, Miller sees no group that could match up the Knicks heading to the new season.
“Cleveland had the best record a year ago…they kept their core intact, but they’re still unproven in the playoffs,” Miller added . “To me, the Knicks with their new coach in Mike Brown and the best clutch player in the game from a year ago in Jalen Brunson, I just think everything is set up for the Knicks to win the East.
"Now again, you’ve gotta go out there and actually do it, but I think this is the year for the Knicks in the East, guys.”
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