On Thursday night, both Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns were named All-Star starters. Brunson’s fate was uncertain over the past month, but in the end, he’ll start alongside his teammate. It marks the franchise’s first pairing to start the game in 50 years. This moment has been long awaited for a fanbase craving some recognition on the NBA’s bigger stages, and speaks to how far the organization has come in just half a decade. Since Brunson’s arrival in the Big Apple, the city has had a taste of postseason success. Now, Knicks Nation is looking for more, with their team primed for a deep playoff run.
Knicks All-Star Duo Shows How Far They’ve Come
There were days not too long ago when Knicks fans never thought this day would come. In the mid to late 2010s, the fanbase just hoped they would have one All-Star to represent their woebegone franchise. Having their two best players earn starting spots in the most talent-laden game in the world is a cherry on top of the organization’s progress since 2020. Once mired at the bottom of the league, NY fans are now used to annual playoff appearances. The goal now has changed: bring the Larry O’Brien trophy back to the Mecca.
Five Seasons Ago
The Knicks kicked off the 2019-20 season in San Antonio, coached by David Fizdale, who had a 21-83 record over parts of two years with the team. Their starting lineup went as follows: Julius Randle, rookie RJ Barrett, Marcus Morris, Bobby Portis, and Allonzo Trier. That group wouldn’t even be close to their worst that season, or any recent year. They lost that game, and went on to finish with a 21-45 record in the Covid-shortened campaign. NY was one of eight teams not invited to the NBA bubble, a marker of how far away they were. Although immensely frustrating for a city that lives and breathes basketball, lackluster play was expected for the once proud franchise.
From this — to having 2 All-Star Starters. https://t.co/x7tHxagmVT pic.twitter.com/d8IOUGriLr
— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) January 24, 2025
Hiring Leon Rose
On March 2nd, 2020, at the tail end of their seventh straight season missing the playoffs, New York hired agent Leon Rose as team president. That moment changed the course of the entire organization in short order. On July 30th, 2020, they hired former Knicks assistant coach, Tom Thibodeau, to be their head coach. A team that once had no structure under the oft-criticized ownership of James Dolan, now had their two leaders.
Existing players like Randle and Barrett came back with improved attitudes, taking their games to the next level. That, combined with savvy moves such as drafting Immanuel Quickley, trading for Derrick Rose, and signing Alec Burks, brought the Knicks back to relevance. It happened surprisingly fast in the “Covid 2021 season”, but suddenly Thibodeau’s group was the fourth seed in the East, hosting the Atlanta Hawks in a playoff series. We all know how that one ended, with NY public enemy number one, Trae Young, taking a bow at center court of Madison Square Garden after completing a five-game blowout over the Knicks. However, Thibodeau’s culture had been instilled, and the Knicks were now a competent franchise again.
Knicks Have Slowly Built a Championship Contender
After a few missteps in a poor 2021 off-season led to a brutal 2021-22 campaign where NY missed the playoffs, they signed their future captain, Jalen Brunson. At the time, it was seen as a consolation signing from missing out on other free agents. Many called it a bad contract, and the Knicks were criticized for holding off on a Donovan Mitchell trade. He ended up in Cleveland.
Little did we know, Brunson would become a superstar in his dad’s old Knick uniform. His unlikely rise transformed the franchise into a serious team, winning playoff series in his first two seasons. Rose made many smart moves over the years, culminating in the 2024 calendar year, where he cashed in his chips. By bringing in OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns via trade, he’s made NY a legitimate title threat. Moving on from Barrett, Quickley, Donte DiVincenzo, Quentin Grimes, and Randle hurt for a fanbase loyal to its players, but it was necessary.
Now, as we head towards the 2025 playoffs, the Knicks have two All-Star starters. Not only that, they have one of basketball’s best starting fives, talented role players, and a coach who’s created a real identity that fits New York. The job isn’t finished, but this franchise has come a long way in just five years.
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