The New York Knicks are dominating the Eastern Conference point tally. They sit at the third spot right behind the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics. Likewise, the Knicks boast an impressive 38-20 record and have won six of their last 10 games.
Their trio of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Mikal Bridges are performing well. It might seem everything is going well for them; however, when it comes to the top teams of the Eastern Conference, they seem to keep falling flat.
Brunson, New York’s point guard, isn’t satisfied. Further adding to the frustration is the fact the Knicks have the talent to make a deep run but are yet to consistently showcase it against elite competition.
Jalen Brunson Frustrated Over New York Knicks’ Record Against Top Contenders
Brunson did not hold back when talking about the Knicks’ struggles against top NBA teams. On the “Roommates Show” podcast, he aired his concerns.
“I do want to talk about something though, our records against the top teams, the NBA, pretty horse****.”
Brunson further emphasized that the Knicks have a strong roster. With stars like Towns and Bridges, they should be beating the best teams more often. But their results say otherwise, creating concern for the playoffs. New York is 0-2 against the Cavaliers, the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, and has lost its last three games against the second-seeded Boston Celtics. In big games, the Knicks keep coming up short.
“The frustrating part about all this is that, like, we have what it takes, we have the personnel, we have everything we need in that locker room,” Brunson said. “We just have to put it together. The amount of times we have been embarrassed on national television, I mean, that should ring a bell. That should be like a wake-up call in itself, not just for those games, like the rest of the season, like we have to wake the hell up.”
Jalen on struggling against top teams this year @bet365_us
“The amount of times we’ve been embarrassed on national television… should be a wake up call.” pic.twitter.com/RcxFBQHd1G
— Roommates Show (@Roommates__Show) February 27, 2025
On Brunson’s part, the two-time NBA All-Star has played a pivot role in making New York successful. The 28-year-old point guard is the leading scorer for the Knicks this season, averaging 26.1 points per game.
He even took a pay cut of a whopping $113 million, to help New York compile a roster with significant contracts for Towns, Bridges, and OG Anunoby. Brunson was eligible for a guaranteed $270 million extension. Instead, he signed a four-year deal worth only $156.5 million to boost the Knicks’ effort to revamp their roster.
If New York fails to capitalize on its improved roster and still struggles against the most dangerous teams, some will reflect on his contract decision poorly. A championship, however, would prove him right. Brunson’s Knicks are set for a crucial showdown against the Memphis Grizzlies, the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, on Friday. Memphis lost 143-106 against New York on Jan. 27.
Needless to say, it’s a big game with ramifications both in the standings and the minds of a Knicks team that must prove to itself they can make a deep playoff run.
