A three-time NBA champion is expressing concerns about the Knicks’ future after hearing unsettling “rumors” surrounding the team.
Danny Green, a Long Island native and former Spurs forward, shared his thoughts during an ESPN conference call on Friday, explaining why he has changed his outlook on the Knicks’ chances in the Eastern Conference.
“The Knicks have been really strong this year, especially towards the end of the season,” Green remarked. “But lately, they seem a bit disconnected. The chemistry just doesn’t look right.”
He further elaborated, “There are whispers about players being unhappy with Mike Brown, or complaints that Jalen Brunson is handling the ball too much. That sounds like a team that’s on the brink of self-destruction.”
Green, who once played alongside OG Anunoby on the 2019 championship-winning Raptors, predicts that the Knicks might fall to the Celtics in the second round, which would be a departure from last year’s outcomes. He attributes this to a lack of team chemistry, suggesting that while the Celtics have it, the Knicks do not, particularly after replacing Tom Thibodeau with Brown.
“Last year we had everything going for us—we had the talent and the tools. We were ready to beat Boston,” he reflected. “It doesn’t really matter if Jayson Tatum was hurt or not; this coaching change has led to some isolation among the players,” Green explained, adding that he has a history of winning titles with the Spurs, Raptors, and Lakers.
Green noted that throughout the season, there were moments when Brown and Karl-Anthony Towns appeared to clash over strategy. Interestingly, while the Knicks’ offense is ranked fourth in the league this season, four of their five starters (excluding Brunson) have actually seen drops in scoring and shot attempts.
This decline follows reports from the summer indicating that players were frustrated with their unclear roles under Thibodeau.
Former All-Star power forward Charles Oakley, who recently watched a Knicks game against the Hawks, echoed similar sentiments regarding his old team.
“Last year was a golden opportunity for the Knicks, right there on the table, but they went elsewhere, like to Popeyes,” Oakley mentioned during a recent appearance on “The Bottom Line Sports Show.” “They have the talent but are still battling internally over their roles. It really comes down to KAT and Brunson leading the team.”
Despite these issues, the Knicks wrapped up the season strong, with 12 wins in their last 16 games—two more than the previous year. They entered the playoffs as the No. 3 seed, set to face the No. 6 seed Hawks in their first matchup. Surprisingly, it wasn’t that the Knicks didn’t perform well, but rather how much the Celtics and Pistons have improved.
Green chose the Celtics over the Knicks after being let go by the Pistons, citing a clear difference in team chemistry.
“I initially thought the Knicks would go far this year,” he said. “Expectations were high after their Eastern Conference Finals run last year. Injuries for Indiana and Boston played a role too—the Celtics have been performing well without much from Jayson Tatum this season.”
“Detroit is a strong team, but they’re still quite young. Boston and New York will inevitably face off in the second round, and from where I stand, I’m leaning towards giving Boston the edge right now.”
