Key Takeaways Jalen Brunson will be an All-Star starter this season with his high level of play.
Julius Randle’s efficiency will improve, and he’ll shoot 40 percent from three-point range.
Mikal Bridges will average less than 15 points per game due to the abundance of talent on the Knicks’ roster.
Behind a career year by star point guard Jalen Brunson , the New York Knicks climbed to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference last season, eclipsing established contenders such as the Milwaukee Bucks , Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers .
The Knicks made a big move at the trade deadline, shipping 2019 No. 3 overall pick RJ Barrett , dynamic sixth man Immanuel Quickley and a second-round pick to the Toronto Raptors for a package headlined by two-way forward OG Anunoby . The trade paid off, as the Knicks posted a 20-3 record with Anunoby.
The Knicks doubled down in the offseason, sending five first-round picks and Bojan Bogdanovic to the Brooklyn Nets for wing Mikal Bridges .
A potential starting lineup of Brunson, Bridges, Anunoby, Randle and Mitchell Robinson could rival any other Eastern Conference contender. Donte DiVincenzo , Josh Hart , Miles McBride and Precious Achiuwa should lead a strong bench unit.
The franchise will enter this season with championship aspirations. Here are three bold predictions for the Knicks for the 2024-25 campaign.
Jalen Brunson Will Be an All-Star Starter
Brunson should be a frontrunner for the spot this season
Last season, Brunson averaged a career-high 28.7 points, 6.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds on efficient 47.9/40.1/84.7 shooting splits. He led all Eastern Conference guards in both PER (23.4) and win shares (11.2), per Basketball Reference.
Despite the stats, Brunson was not voted an All-Star starter, finishing third behind Damian Lillard and Tyrese Haliburton . Among media voters, Brunson finished second but was only fifth in fan voting, behind Lillard, Haliburton, Trae Young and Donovan Mitchell .
Brunson handled the snub gracefully when speaking to reporters.