The New York Knicks are riding the momentum of a strong regular season as they aim to reestablish themselves as legitimate NBA title contenders. After a deep run to the Eastern Conference Finals last year, the team enters this postseason with an upgraded roster that now includes All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns. But one key concern remains: the health of star point guard Jalen Brunson.
Brunson returned to the floor Sunday night after missing 15 games due to a sprained right ankle, helping lead the Knicks to a 112–98 victory over the Phoenix Suns. The All-Star guard logged 15 points in his return and, while his conditioning wasn’t at its peak, he emphasized that the win mattered more than individual performance.
“I don’t want to say [my injury] was a silver lining, but whenever someone goes out, it’s a collective team effort, and everyone steps up,” Brunson said postgame, via ESPN’s Chris Herring. “It gives everyone a chance to come together and get better.”
Brunson admitted there’s still “a lot of room for improvement,” especially mentally. “Everyone always talks about the physical part…but mentally, it’s just trusting your movements, trusting the way you play, and not second-guessing yourself. That was the biggest adjustment, but I’m feeling a lot better.”
Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks dribbles during the first half against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on January 20, 2025.
Thibodeau praises Anunoby’s impact
While Brunson’s return made headlines, OG Anunoby stole the NBA show in stretches, especially in the opening quarter where he posted nine points. Though quieter in the second quarter, Anunoby’s overall impact drew praise from head coach Tom Thibodeau.
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“When the ball moves, the game becomes easy,” Thibodeau said postgame. “You have to have balance. If you’re getting easy baskets off the defense, that helps a lot.”
Thibodeau also emphasized the importance of “trusting the pass” and reading the defense—foundational principles in his coaching philosophy. “If you’re executing and you’re playing for each other… if they’re trapping somebody, you can play off that,” he added.
The Knicks’ winning formula
With Brunson back and Towns anchoring the interior, Thibodeau laid out a simple blueprint for postseason success: play downhill, trust your reads, and make the right play.
“We have a number of guys that are good attacking downhill,” Thibodeau said. “So we play off that. And then you have the responsibility of making deep paint decisions. When you get there, if you have a good angle to the basket, go. If the second defender’s there, spray. That’s why we say: just read the game and play for each other. When that happens, good things come.”
