The Knicks’ slogan “Knicks in 5” hasn’t convinced everyone in the NBA. In fact, according to the annual GM survey released on NBA.com, only one out of the league’s 30 general managers believes the Knicks will win the championship this season. This is the lowest number for a defending champion since the Raptors in the 2019-20 season.
Back then, Toronto had just lost Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard to the Clippers, which certainly affected their standing.
However, the current Knicks squad is returning their entire starting lineup, a group that famously set a record for positive point differential during last year’s playoffs.
Interestingly, the Spurs, whom the Knicks defeated in the Finals, garnered half of the GM votes for the next potential champions, while the Thunder followed closely with 43 percent. The Knicks, along with the Sixers, received just 3 percent—essentially only one vote each.
It’s worth noting that GMs could not select their own teams or players in the survey.
Despite the skepticism about New York’s ability to repeat as champions, a solid 60 percent of the GMs believe the Knicks can emerge from the Eastern Conference, which is significantly higher than the Sixers, who received 23 percent. This marks the first time in the survey’s history, which dates back to 2002, that the Knicks were chosen to win the conference.
Still, it seems that decision-makers in the league don’t see the Knicks as capable of overcoming the Western champions, namely the Spurs or Thunder.
On an individual level, Jalen Brunson and coach Mike Brown received notable acknowledgements. Brunson was recognized as the NBA’s best leader with 53 percent of the votes, far surpassing Stephen Curry, who garnered 20 percent. This recognition allowed Brown to commend his team captain.
“He studies the game, and that helps a lot,” Brown noted. “He walks the talk. He works extremely hard and pushes for perfection from himself. When that’s evident to teammates, it gives him credibility to hold others accountable when they aren’t performing their best. Importantly, he isn’t afraid to lead, even if it means standing alone at times.”
Brunson ranked second for the league’s top clutch player, trailing only Curry, and was also listed third for future best coach potential.
Brown himself was rated third for best active coach, following Miami’s Erik Spoelstra and Oklahoma City’s Mark Daigneault, and he came in fourth for top motivator, behind Spoelstra, Boston’s Joe Mazzulla, and Golden State’s Steve Kerr.
