There’s something instinctive about wanting to take it easy and bask in accomplishments.
This summer, the Knicks seemed to embrace that notion, showing up at countless events and national broadcasts. Well, it certainly felt like they were everywhere over the past few months; though there’s no official count to verify that.
The players, like Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jose Alvarado, OG Anunoby, Jordan Clarkson, and Josh Hart, were pretty open about enjoying their newfound fame.
But, starting this week, everything shifts back to basketball.
“Is it cliché if I say it’s 0-0 again?” Towns remarked. “That’s essentially how we approached every playoff game. Winning was exhilarating, but now it’s about starting fresh, starting at zero. We need that same drive, that hunger to prove ourselves. We’re the underdogs here.”
Towns made these comments during an appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” which might have been his last national appearance before training camp kicks off. Or maybe not? Brunson is also set to host “Saturday Night Live” ahead of Monday’s Media Day at the training facility.
However, these public appearances aren’t harmful to their basketball careers. Honestly, they’re better than spending the summer just partying. This group of Knicks, as many in the organization have pointed out, seems more grounded and responsible than past rosters. There was one minor incident with Clarkson in July involving a police escort from a club, but that was the only hitch.
Despite their success and public admiration, it raises some questions: Can the Knicks sidestep complacency? Can they keep the same edge that drove them through that remarkable playoff series?
Brunson, enjoying major visibility as probably the most recognized athlete in New York right now, gets it.
“We accomplished something that fans have been waiting on for 53 years. Now, everyone’s saying we’re the champs, that we’re the best. We’ve heard it all summer, and who knows how long it will go on,” he told The Post last month. “But we need to let those compliments go through one ear and out the other. Concentrating on our goals for this year is essential. Last year was last year.”
“It’s fine for people to reminisce and say, ‘Oh, that was spectacular.’ However, we have to move forward. That can’t dominate our thoughts if we want to improve. So, I think that’s pivotal. If we can manage that, we’ll be setting ourselves up nicely. If not, well, we could find ourselves in a difficult position.”
This is a theme as training camp begins; it’s supposed to be the time for progress, but it can be hard to feel motivated—especially for seasoned players—since the real games are still a bit away.
One motivational strategy the Knicks are clearly adopting is leveraging the skepticism around them. For example, they aren’t the favorites for the championship, tied for third place behind the Thunder and Spurs on FanDuel. They also lack representation in ESPN’s recent top-five player ranking (Brunson comes in at sixth). And they keep hearing about emerging competition from teams like Philadelphia, Miami, and Toronto.
In short, there’s still plenty to prove.
“I don’t think we have a major target on our backs since no one expects us to win again,” Hart mentioned during ESPN’s U.S. Open broadcast. “We’re using that as motivation. We’re still the hunters, and we’re not content with just one victory.”
Building on this mentality starts in camp.
