You hear versions of the story often. Here’s one that might be apocryphal (forgive me if I get it wrong; I’m bottle-feeding a rescued kitten every two hours and haven’t slept properly since Friday). Rock juggernaut Def Leppard was almost finished recording their follow-up to the multi-platinum Pyromania, and their track list was locked down when producer Mutt Lange heard singer Joe Elliott strumming something new during a break. Mutt deemed this song a worthy, eleventh-hour addition to the album.
That little ditty? “Pour Some Sugar on Me.” Huge hit. Ask your parents.
Sometimes a late change, whether accidental or desperate, can alter the fates. In April 2026, the third-seeded New York Knickerbockers found themselves trailing the sixth-seeded Atlanta Hawks two games to one. Our heroes had spent months stress-testing their systems and preparing for a deep playoff run only to get cut up by the honorable, but aging, CJ McCollum.
With their backs against the proverbial wall, coach Mike Brown recognized the need for a change. His central adjustment placed Karl-Anthony Towns in a facilitating role farther out from the basket. This reduced the creation load on Jalen Brunson, highlighted Towns’ vision as a passer, drew opposing bigs away from the rim, and created opportunities for the wings to cut and screen effectively.
New York’s overall scoring efficiency rose sharply, posting an offensive rating near 124 points per 100 possessions and a record-shattering point differential. Operating in high gear, they went on a 15-1 run that delivered them to the promised land. And there was great rejoicing.
Training camp for the 2026-27 season began this week. Now Coach Brown has a chance to refine and expand on his winning formula.
Early reports from training camp indicate that Towns’ hub role will remain a priority, as the coaching staff plans to increase elbow involvement for KAT and explore additional ways to involve the wings across the floor. Their options include testing new Knick Andre Drummond as a secondary facilitator and giving OG Anunoby more minutes at center. During the playoffs, OG in particular produced some of his strongest stretches by generating offense off the bounce. Moving him into a small-ball center role with more interior and mid-floor actions could help maximize his impact, especially with limited traditional center depth behind Towns.
(Unrelated: OG needs a nickname on his Basketball-Reference page. The Big Tipper? Help us out.)
Coach Brown used the first day of camp to temper expectations that might/can/probably should arise from New York’s legendary postseason finish. He said the regular season will inevitably include adversity and periods when the team does not resemble its postseason peak. Mike has an entire training camp to formalize something that succeeded partly because opponents had little time to prepare for it. Now they know what’s coming. To repeat their championship, the veteran skipper might need a new ace up his sleeve for the next postseason.
Maybe that’s why Rajon Rondo appeared at the practice facility this week. Brunson has formed a connection with the two-time champion in recent months and described the former Celtics point guard as a player he watched growing up. As for what he admired, Jalen specifically cited Rondo’s creativity and unusual way of seeing the game.
New York may need to explore some fresh ideas if they intend to remain atop the mountain. Sustaining success is difficult in any field, as Def Leppard found out. Almost 40 years later, “Pour Some Sugar on Me” remains their biggest hit. We waited five decades for a championship. We’d rather not wait so long for the next one.
Knicks in five.
