The New York Knicks are becoming a force in the Eastern Conference following the OG Anunoby trade, and the duo of Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle is proving to be one of the best in the league. With a 34-22 record, which is good for the 4th seed in the East, the Knicks have the best team since 2012-13 when Carmelo Anthony was at his absolute peak. For once in a long time, Knicks fans have hope.
- Scoring – Jalen Brunson
- Playmaking – Jalen Brunson
- Rebounding – Julius Randle
- Defense – OG Anunoby
- 3-Point Shooting – Donte DiVincenzo
- Finishing – Jalen Brunson
- Athleticism – Julius Randle
- Clutch – Jalen Brunson
- Efficiency – Jalen Brunson
- Leadership – Jalen Brunson
- Versatility – Julius Randle
- Handles – Jalen Brunson
- Underrated – Josh Hart
- Overrated – Mitchell Robinson
- Overall – Jalen Brunson
With a team filled with exceptional talents on both ends of the court, the Knicks have a roster that is built to contend now and in the foreseeable future. We have named the best player on the current Knicks roster in every category, including scoring, playmaking, and defense for the 2023-24 season.
Scoring – Jalen Brunson
During the 2023-24 season, Jalen Brunson has been the driving force of the New York Knicks’ offense. With a scoring average of 27.6 points per game, Brunson is still the best scorer on the team and a lethal weapon for them in the clutch.
With exceptional driving ability, crafty dribble moves, and a low center of gravity, Brunson has become a superstar offensively and it has been incredible to watch. The Dallas Mavericks sorely miss Brunson because the point guard has made the All-Star Team this season and is one of the most impactful guards in the league right now.
Playmaking – Jalen Brunson
In the playmaking department, Brunson has also been an absolute maestro for his team this season. It’s pretty remarkable – he’s leading the squad with a solid 6.5 assists per game and managing to keep his turnovers impressively low at 2.4. Despite being the leading scorer, Brunson is doing his job as a playmaker.
Julius Randle is right up there as the second-leading playmaker, dishing out a notable 5.0 assists while Josh Hart is the third playmaker on the team with a 3.2 assists per game average. Overall, Brunson’s ability to orchestrate plays, share the rock, and do it all with minimal consistency is a testament to his basketball IQ and leadership.
Rebounding – Julius Randle
When it comes to grabbing boards, Julius Randle is the go-to guy for the Warriors, pulling down a solid 9.2 rebounds per game since Mitchell Robinson has been absent for most of the year (10.3 RPG). It’s a clear sign that the Knicks are putting a premium on crashing the boards, and Randle has answered the call in the paint in Mitchell’s absence. Even when the center is back, Randle is the most athletic player on the team.
He is 6’8” and 250 lbs, sporting a muscular physique that allows him to rise around the rim and snag boards. Randle is a three-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA Team member for a reason and he is doing his job when it comes to the basic requirements from elite power forwards: rebounding.
Defense – OG Anunoby
Despite being recently acquired, OG Anunoby is still the team’s best defender, averaging 1.8 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. No player on the Knicks is posting more steals and only Mitchell Robinson is posting more bocks (1.3), but Anunoby is the most versatile defender and the tone-setter in that regard.
Without Anunoby at his best, the Knicks will not meet their expectations defensively. No other player can be relied upon to hustle, defend all positions, and switch on defense effectively. Anunoby led the NBA in steals last year (1.9) and made the All-Defensive Team, so the Knicks are fortunate to have an elite defender on the squad.
3-Point Shooting – Donte DiVincenzo
Donte DiVincenzo is shooting a remarkable 41.5% from three and is attempting over seven threes per game. Making 3.0 threes per game, DiVincenzo has become a critical part of the Knicks’ offensive gameplan and his shooting has been exceptional.
Only Jalen Brunson and Alec Burks are posting at least 6.0 three-point attempts per game this season, which means DiVincenzo has been a go-to three-point scorer for the Knicks. As long as he can continue making his outside shots, the combo guard will be worth the salary that will eclipse $11 million over the next three seasons.
Finishing – Jalen Brunson
Julius Randle might be the easy choice for the best finisher because he is exceptionally athletic and has the strength to power home buckets. However, Jalen Brunson has been extraordinary around the basket this season. He has every layup in the bag and a floater that is becoming a go-to move.
Brunson’s offense has been a mix of three-point shooting and inside scoring, so he is averaging over 48% from the field and is getting hacked around the rim as well. The All-Star point guard is attempting over six foul shots per game so he is becoming an unstoppable ball-handler right now.
Athleticism – Julius Randle
When it comes to pure athleticism, Randle is stealing the spotlight for the Knicks. Standing at 6’9″ and weighing in at 250 lbs, the 29-year-old is the definition of an explosive athlete. He is one of the best big men in the league right now as he continues to level up his offense across the board.
That combination of explosive athleticism and ability to close out plays at the basket is making him a standout on the court as a bonafide All-Star. In a team where Brunson is lauded for his playmaking and skill, Randle is the beacon of pure athleticism beyond the often-injured Mitchell Robinson.
Clutch – Jalen Brunson
When it comes to clutch moments, there’s no denying that Jalen Brunson is the Knicks’ go-to closer. In a season that can be considered excellent for the Knicks, Brunson’s ability to step up when it matters most is nothing short of impressive.
Brunson ranks 24th in the NBA in total clutch points, posting 62 so far this season. That’s ahead of Kawhi Leonard and Luka Doncic, showing how good Brunson has been with the game on the line. As the best offensive player on the team, Brunson is getting the ball in crunch time.
Efficiency – Jalen Brunson
When it comes to efficiency, Jalen Brunson is showcasing his elite shooting skills in terms of percentages. Shooting at 48.3% from the field, 41.1% from three, and an impressive 83.5% from the free-throw stripe, Brunson remains a force to be reckoned with.
Brunson has answered the call offensively for the Knicks all season long and is doing it while turning the ball over less than 2.5 times per game on average. The point guard has to be one of the best free-agent decisions in recent memory because the Knicks could not have found a better point guard for them.
Leadership – Jalen Brunson
While Julius Randle was the first player to help put the Knicks back on the map in the East, Jalen Brunson has emerged as the undisputed captain of the team. The floor general has stepped into the forefront as the stabilizing force. What sets Brunson apart is not just his on-court prowess but his humility off the court. He leads by example, embodying the values of hard work and dedication.
As the best scorer and playmaker on the team, Brunson’s impact is undeniable. If the Knicks want to get where they want to go, it will be up to the point guard to lead them because he has to do more once the playoffs come around.
Versatility – Julius Randle
When it comes to versatility, Julius Randle stands out as a jack-of-all-trades for the Knicks as a versatile power forward. Randle’s stat line, averaging 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game, showcases his ability to contribute across various facets of the game.
What sets him apart is his ability to impact many areas as he is capable of defending multiple positions and crashing the boards at the same time. Additionally, Randle stands out as one of the best playmakers on the team, providing a valuable link between the offense and defense despite manning the middle on most possessions.
Handles – Jalen Brunson
No other player comes close to Brunson in terms of using ball-handling to create offense for himself for the Knicks. Julius Randle is the closest, but he is still a power forward and won’t have the natural ease of getting past defenders that Brunson has.
Brunson’s handles and the improvement in that regard since his breakout campaign with the Dallas Mavericks is arguably the main reason he has become an offensive superstar. As long as Brunson is controlling the rock, the Knicks have an excellent chance to win games because his handles are truly excellent.
Underrated – Josh Hart
Josh Hart is often overlooked on the Knicks roster because Brunson and Randle are the stars and OG Anunoby is the new face that everybody loves. Hart is the glue guy that makes the Knicks a better team on both ends, whether it comes to playing above-average defense and crashing the boards, to making threes.
Hart is posting 7.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game while constantly doing the dirty work for the team. Even if his three-point shooting has been poor (30.6%), his ability to contribute on both ends of the court for Tom Thibodeau makes him an underrated player right now.
Overrated – Mitchell Robinson
Mitchell Robinson can be dominant defensively at times, but he is often injured and he lacks offensive ability around the rim. That is bringing down what the center can bring when he is on the court because he cannot be trusted to contribute consistently.
It might be wise for the Knicks to try to find a more consistent starting center because Robinson’s number of games played over the last two seasons is worrying. Robinson only played in 59 games last year and was shut down after 21 games this year, meaning his $14 million salary next season could be a little difficult to swallow.
Overall – Jalen Brunson
Jalen Brunson is the best player on the Knicks and that has become the fact of this season. The point guard is putting up the best numbers on the team, is the go-to closer, and has helped make the Knicks a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference.
Once Julius Randle returns from his injury, the Knicks will feel they have all the pieces to contend for the title this year or at least make the Eastern Conference Finals. Other than the Boston Celtics, the Knicks feel they have an edge over any other team in the East and will gear up for a deep playoff run behind Brunson’s leadership.
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