Tarrytown, NY – Before the Knicks could look forward to the new season, there were loose ends to get attached to last year.
On Tuesday, the team launched the 2025-26 season with the media day, and the speech on the annual event was the dismissal in June of former head coach Tom Thibodeau. Several players were questioned about Thibodeau, who led the Knicks to their first final of the Eastern Conference in 25 years last season.
“It’s sad to see a man I have known for a long time with this organization,” said Jalen Brunson. “He has mean a lot for me. I expressed it publicly and personally. He said a lot for my career. ”
Thibodeau led five seasons to New York, helping the Knicks to return to a respectable organization on the ground. Thibodeau had a file of 226-174 during his stay with the team. New York made the playoffs in four of the five years of Thibodeau making the touch. The Knicks had only four appearances in eliminatory series from 2002 to 2020.
“Obviously, I love Thibs, and I will always have love for Thibs,” said Josh Hart. “The things he helped me, putting me in place to succeed and be paid. I always have love for him and I hope he is doing well right now. ”
Conversely, while speaking of Thibodeau’s departure, the players who took the podium talked about the hiring of Mike Brown as head coach. The former head coach of Sacramento Kings was hired in July after Extensive and wobbly search During the summer.
“We are delighted with what he brings to the table, both offensively and defensively,” said Hart. “Obviously, it’s a bit of a feeling of feeling, but we are delighted with what team A and maybe. Now, it’s Jeling.”
Here are some other main take -out dishes from Knicks media day.
Change of start -up range?
Brown said he was not going in the training camp with a starting program already in place.
“It will materialize throughout the camp,” said Brown. “I think it is too early to enter and say,” This is what will happen. The list… Leon (Rose) and his group have done a fantastic job to assemble a talented and deep list.
Last season, the Knicks launched first five – Brunson, Karl -Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, Hart and Og Anunoby – who played more than 200 minutes more than any other group of five men from the NBA during the regular season. Throughout the season, this group had a net note of 3.3, which is positive but far from being as good as it should have been for this collection of talents. The group’s production decreased in the second half of the season and the playoffs. From January 1 to April 13, that the beginning of five had a clear note of less 1,4. In the playoffs, it fell to less-6.2.
Halfway through the playoffs, Thibodeau changed the starting training for the first time all season, replacing Hart with the Mitchell Robinson center. This group was better but still wore a clear note less than 3.7 in 68 minutes together.
If there was a change compared to the group of last year which spent most of the season together, Hart seems to be the strange man. The Knicks have large funds invested in the other four players, and Hart, who suggested to Thibodeau that he came out of the bench in the last playoffs, would be the only one to manage such a best movement. In addition, Hart, although a precious player, is not a floor spacer, and the way the teams defended him played a role in the difficulties of the offensive against the best defenses and over the season. The opposing teams put their great men on Hart and kept cities with wings of length and sport, which also presented challenges for New York.
Brown could be more interested in starting games with a more traditional range of five outings or to put Robinson back in the starting range to help cover some of the defensive limits of the starting unit.
“If I don’t start, I’m probably going to ask for a job,” said Hart joking. “I had the best year in my career last year, but it’s in the past. I think I’m a starter in the league. I think I deserve to be a starter in the league. But in the end, this is what is best for the team.
“Last year, I spoke of sacrificing all the timehave this servant’s mentality. I think it would be extremely selfish for me to ask to start. Whatever Mike wants to do, I’m cool. Time will say what it is.
The Knicks coach Mike Brown says he is not going to engage in an initial alignment yet. (Images Dustin Satloff / Getty)
Summer injuries… or not?
Despite an ESPN report in June according to which cities underwent treatment on its deadly left knee and to repair ligament damage to the left finger, the great man of the Knicks denied having been operated.
“I have not undergone knee or fingers surgery,” said Towns.
Brunson said he had no setbacks this summer of an ankle injury that cost him a month of the season just before the start of the playoffs. The injury was still bothering Brunson in the Knicks series in the first round against the Pistons de Detroit, but seemed to improve over the playoffs.
Finally, Hart revealed that he could play this season with a fingers. In July, the team announced that Hart had undergone a right annular procedure due to an injury suffered in the playoffs. Hart said he had recently reacted his finger and would not get a procedure that after the season unless the injury prevents him from “playing how I play”.
“Now, I actually know what’s wrong, instead of thinking last year that it was one thing, take a break, go back to basketball, then understand that it was worse than I thought,” said Hart.
The bridges want to win … badly
On Tuesday, Bridges met with the media for the first time since he signed an extension of $ 150 million over four years with the Knicks in July.
The 29 -year -old man took $ 6 million less than the maximum he could receive ($ 156 million) and said it was intentional.
“It was the greatest thing,” said Bridges when he was asked if taking less money was to help New York financial flexibility. “If I came here and preached how much I want to win and try to take each dollar and make the task difficult for the organization, then I seem to be fraud. It is not who I am. I want to win badly. At any rate. I love all guys here, and why don’t I want the next man who needs money to have an opportunity to be paid, and why?
“I had a good amount of money.”
Bridges was exchanged to the Knicks of Brooklyn Nets last year for a handful of recovery choices. His first season in Manhattan came with mixed results. He was a very good mid -range shooter and pulled corners. However, his shot above the 3-point breakup never came, he rarely took free throws, and sometimes he fought as a defender of the point of attack.
Over the season, however, the defense of bridges has improved, and he had great moments for this purpose in the playoffs to help the Knicks to secure biting victories on the pistons and the Boston Celtics.
The bridges had a bit A public Tiff with Thibodeau last seasonWhich made a lot of people wondering if he appreciated his role and time in New York. In addition, many fans criticisms were also directed to the bridges, largely due to his game from top to bottom and the advantages that took New York to obtain it.
However, Bridges declared his love for the Knicks by signing this summer.
“I love it here,” said Bridges. “I love fans, culture, staff, front office and teammates. It was probably the greatest thing. Throughout last year, I know it was difficult. Throughout the season, and the playoffs have helped a little, but I can appreciate the fans. I think a lot of people thought I could be angry because they could put me a little too hard, but I’m crazier. I want the same goal.
(Superior photo of Jalen Brunson: Dustin Satloff / Getty Images)
