The New York Knicks won 50 games last season.
They had the second-best record in the Eastern Conference and looked like the biggest — and perhaps the only — threat to the Boston Celtics on that side of the bracket.
Unfortunately, a string of injuries got the best of them late in the season, and they fell to the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the playoffs.
Now, with Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson coming back, the addition of Mikal Bridges, and a full season of OG Anunoby, expectations are higher for this group.
That’s why, when asked about their goals for the upcoming campaign, Donte DiVincenzo was as blunt as possible, stating that they want to be in the NBA Finals (via New York Basketball).
“The goal is for the Knicks to be in the Finals…”
— Donte DiVincenzo pic.twitter.com/TSQXsJh9qL
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) September 25, 2024
Notably, this statement would’ve been met with some mockery years ago, but that’s a realistic goal for Tom Thibodeau’s team now.
He now has quite the deep team and more than enough contributors to finally give his star players a breather and not run them into the ground by playing them heavy minutes.
Jalen Brunson continues to elevate his game and makes everybody around him better, and this team has unmatched camaraderie and chemistry.
We already know what they can do on defense, and if they manage to stay healthy this time, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see them return to the biggest stage for the first time in decades.
NEXT:
Former Player Reveals What Mitchell Robinson’s Absence Means For Knicks
