New York Knicks Wild Card

From off-court podcasts to on-court putbacks, the New York Knicks have personified what teamwork looks like at the NBA’s highest level in 2023-24. Durable enough to withstand the countless assortment of injuries that threatened to cloud their season, basketball in The Big Apple reached a level it hasn’t touched since 2012-13: a 50-win season and the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Question marks remain regarding the Knicks’ long-term ability to overcome the season-ending loss of Julius Randle, but through tireless grit, virtuosic offensive performances from first-time All-Star Jalen Brunson, and a unique, top-10 standing on both offense and defense, they’ve found a way to survive. Brunson’s ability to follow a breakout season with an additional breakout commands the top fold, with his scoring average (28.7) only surpassed by three others. In response to the adversity among the depth chart, his teammates — such as Josh Hart’s new triple-double habit — have helped offset the losses. Among others, a slew of first-year Knicks such as Donte DiVincenzo, OG Anunoby, and Bojan Bogdanović will be looking to up their ante as they await the news of their first-round opponent.