It’s time to give flowers to the operators working behind the scenes: the front office that meticulously crafted the roster propelling the Knicks to the second annual NBA Cup knockout round.
This is the same front office that transformed an offense once entirely dependent on Jalen Brunson’s individual scoring brilliance into a multi-dimensional powerhouse.
No longer does the Knicks’ success hinge on whether their All-Star guard has one of his trademark nuclear nights. Instead, this team thrives on depth, balance, and a dynamic supporting cast — a testament to the vision and bold moves executed by those pulling the strings in the background.
It’s this evolution that has propelled Brunson to new heights this season and, in turn, elevated the Knicks to a higher basketball stratosphere. That transformation was on full display Tuesday night, as New York dismantled the NBA’s second-best defense in a commanding 121-106 victory over the Orlando Magic.
Opposing defenses can no longer afford to sell out entirely to stop Brunson. When they do, he now has options — options that simply weren’t available to him last season. This newfound versatility isn’t just a credit to Brunson’s growth but a testament to the front office’s strategic vision.
They made this happen. They share in this victory, too.
It started with the tough decisions.
Sending five first-round picks to Brooklyn to acquire Mikal Bridges was a gamble. Swapping Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo for Karl-Anthony Towns added a floor-spacing big man with elite offensive capabilities. Navigating the constraints of the second apron to assemble depth was a masterclass in cap management, led by Brock Aller.
The Knicks also signed Miles McBride to a three-year extension hours after trading Immanuel Quickley, inked Cameron Payne to a minimum deal, and even had Landry Shamet in line for a role before a preseason injury sidelined him.
And let’s not forget OG Anunoby’s record-setting five-year, $212.5 million extension. Criticized at the time, the deal now looks like an essential piece of the Knicks’ championship puzzle. Oh, and they extended Tom Thibodeau, the coach overseeing it all.
The front office is responsible, and it’s the players who are executing on an aligned vision: competing for a title, though for the moment the NBA Cup will suffice.
This front office built a team capable of dismantling one of the hottest squads in the NBA. Now, it’s the Knicks who are rolling.
On Tuesday, they caught the Magic under their wheel.
The Magic entered Tuesday’s matchup having won 12 of their last 13 games despite missing franchise cornerstone Paolo Banchero. They boasted a smothering defense that led the league in points allowed per game at just 97.2 — nine fewer than the second-ranked Houston Rockets.
But the Knicks obliterated that number, scoring 97 points by the third quarter and cruising to a statement victory.
The Knicks scored 36 points in the first quarter then another 35 in the second to take a 20-point lead into halftime. It’s the most points the Magic have allowed in a half, and the second- and third-most points the Magic have allowed in any quarter during their now 12-2 stretch.
And the Magic didn’t score 97 points until there were less than three minutes left in the final period. Franz Wagner, Orlando’s No. 1 scoring option in Banchero’s absence, finished with 30 points on 10-of-22 shooting from the field, and his brother, Moritz Wagner, added 20 off the bench, but only two other Orlando players scored in double figures while all five Knicks starters scored 11 or more points.
That’s the kind of thing — all five starters evenly impacting a game — that didn’t happen last season, when an injury-riddled Knicks roster lived and died largely on Brunson’s shooting hand.
“He’s not going to see anything new [defensively.] This is what he’s dealt with for the past couple of years,” said Thibodeau. “You don’t do it by yourself, his teammates are going to have to help him. Anytime they put two on him, that means we have an advantage somewhere else. Don’t fight it. Let the game tell you what to do and trust each other.”
The front office did that. That trust was on full display Tuesday. Brunson and Towns combined for a modest 44 points — not the kind of individual dominance that carried the team last year — but the Knicks didn’t need it.
This team is no longer reliant on hero ball. It can beat you with unselfish play, ball movement, and defensive versatility.
The Knicks aren’t into statements, but they made one on Tuesday. They can call themselves the hottest team in basketball, winners of eight of their last 10 games, after swiping the title away from the Magic.
And yet, this team is just scratching the surface.
With Mitchell Robinson and Precious Achiuwa still sidelined, the Knicks haven’t even seen what their defense can look like at full strength. Pairing their league-best offense with a bolstered defense makes their championship aspirations all the more legitimate.
The Knicks are 4-0 in NBA Cup play, advancing to the next round with a chance to make a run in Las Vegas. But the team’s sights are set higher than the NBA Cup. This is a roster built to contend for something far greater. The front office did that, and it’s time they get the credit they deserve.
