It’s the dog days of August, but there are still a few morsels of Knicks content to chew on. The Athletic took stock of the NBA’s best lead guards (with Jalen Brunson landing in elite company) and offered a way-too-early depth chart prediction under new coach Mike Brown. Finally, NBA.com revisited Patrick Ewing’s shot-blocking dominance. Here we go!
Ranking the Best Point Guards
The Athletic released its rankings of the NBA’s best lead guards, and Knicks star Jalen Brunson landed in the second tier—just
below Luka Dončić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Steph Curry.
Brunson was labeled “mostly a scorer,” but also “arguably the most clutch player in the league.” Arguably? Wasn’t he voted the Clutch Player of the Year last season? His dependability is one reason why his stock continues to climb: Jalen has turned late-game possessions into his personal stage. Knicks fans saw it firsthand all season and last year’s playoffs, when his poise and shot-making nearly carried the Knicks to the Finals.
On the list, Brunson ranked ahead of De’Aaron Fox, Trae Young, Damian Lillard, and Tyrese Maxey, among others. For a player dismissed as undersized and secondary in Dallas, the recognition shows just how far he’s come in New York.
With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined by an Achilles tear and Kyrie Irving’s durability always in question, Brunson has a real chance to tighten his grip on a top-three spot. For the Knicks, it’s more validation that they’ve struck gold.
An Early Look at Possible Rotation
Also at The Athletic, James Edwards III offered an early look at how Coach Brown might shape the Knicks’ rotation for 2025-26. The projected starting five: Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Mitchell Robinson.
The big question is Josh Hart. He started much of last year, but the Brunson-Bridges-Hart-Anunoby-Towns lineup struggled in the playoffs, posting a minus-6.2 net rating. By mid-postseason, Tom Thibodeau swapped Robinson in, stabilizing the defense. Edwards predicts Brown will keep Robinson as a permanent starter, leaning on his rim protection while sliding Towns to center in five-out looks when Guerschon Yabusele checks in.
That doesn’t diminish Hart’s importance. Brown is a known admirer of his hustle and connective play, and Hart is projected to be one of the first subs. But his move to the bench would reflect a defense-first approach more than any knock on his value.
As for depth, Edwards floated a nine-man rotation: Brunson, Bridges, Anunoby, Towns, Robinson, Hart, Miles McBride, Jordan Clarkson, and Yabusele. Sophomore Ariel Hukporti may get spot minutes, while Pacôme Dadiet could be eased in, too. The Knicks are still weighing veteran-minimum options, with Landry Shamet a possible backup guard.
The Knicks Top-Five Single-Season Block Performers
Finally, at NBA.com, the staff reviewed the Knicks’ top-five single-season block performers. Spoiler alert: All five are Patrick Ewing.
The Hall of Famer owns each of the franchise’s top five single-season block performances, underscoring his legacy as one of the NBA’s greatest shot blockers.
Big Pat’s peak came in 1990, when he averaged four blocks per game—one of only 16 seasons in league history to hit that mark. That year, he also scored a career-best 28.6 points per game, earned First Team All-NBA honors, and finished fifth in MVP voting.
The run didn’t stop there. In 1989, Ewing swatted 3.5 shots per game, ranking behind only Manute Bol and Mark Eaton. In 1991, he averaged 3.2 blocks, highlighted by a nine-block performance against the Jazz. His first three-block season came in 1988, when he paired his defensive dominance with a then-career-high 20.2 points per game. He capped the stretch in 1992, again averaging three while pulling down 11.2 rebounds per night.
For much of his time here, Ewing set the defensive standard in New York. More than three decades later, no Knick has come close to matching his consistency as an elite shot-blocking anchor. Mitchell Robinson might be a massive swatter, but his injury history will always be a blemish on his career. If he stays healthy this season, though….
If you’re curious, here are the top-10 Knicks for shot blocks per game, per Basketball-Reference.
- Patrick Ewing 2.7
- Kristaps Porziņģis 2.0
- Mitchell Robinson 1.8
- Marcus Camby 1.8
- Joe Meriweather 1.6
- Bob McAdoo* 1.4
- Marvin Webster 1.3
- Lonnie Shelton 1.3
- Tyson Chandler 1.2
- Charles Smith 1.2
Enjoy your week. And go Knicks.
