The mid-to-late 2010s were a pretty brutal time to be a New York Knicks fan. Across a seven-season span from 2013 to 2019, the Knicks failed to have a winning campaign. In fact, they never got close to it, and there were some truly rotten seasons, including ones with 17 wins in 2015 and 2019. There were tough stretches before, which is normal for a historic franchise, but there is an argument that that period was the Knicks’ lowest ebb.
Fast-forward to today, and the Knicks fanbase is preparing to watch its team play a first NBA Finals series in 27 years, gunning for a first NBA Championship since 1973. The team was viewed as a middle-tier contender in the NBA odds at the beginning of the season, but now the Knicks are on the cusp of glory. How did they get here? And what has changed? Let’s look at some of the reasons why the Knicks have been transformed:
A Patient Approach
Every sports fan wants their rebuild, i.e., the remodeling of a team from the bottom, to happen “tomorrow”. Yet, with the Knicks, it has been a case of steady progress, asking fans to trust the long-term plan. That can be frustrating for fans who crave success, especially for a big market team like New York that has been so long without it.
Right Players at the Right Time
Jalen Brunson was 25 when he signed for the Knicks as a free agent. He had just had his breakout season (his 4th in the NBA) with the Dallas Mavericks. The Knicks were betting on this potential, in full knowledge that he was not yet ready to take the step up. It was an example of that patient approach. Other arrivals, like talented big man Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, also added quality without the baggage of huge egos.
Faith in the Players
While Brunson usually takes the headlines, there are so many others that the Knicks have kept the faith with, and who’ve repaid that faith. OG Anunoby is one who stands out, especially as he has been so effective in the 2026 Playoffs. But there are others, such as Josh Hart, who’ve won the respect of the fans through hard work. You can see these players are playing for the fans and each other.
A Ruthless Streak When Needed
Tom Thibodeau spent five years with the Knicks, winning NBA Coach of the Year in 2021. He also led the team (that had won 21 games the season before he took over) to the Playoffs in four of his five seasons. But the Knicks hierarchy made the decision that Thibodeau had taken the organization as far as he could, replacing him with Mike Brown for this season. It looks to be an inspired decision.
The Front Office Rebuild
Everyone wants the best players, but the decisions still come from the C-suite. The Knicks got a new president (Leon Rose) in 2020, a new GM (Gersson Rosas) in 2022, and there have been several other moves at the executive level. The players and coaches win championships at the end of the day, but the management decides direction.
Belief and Identity
It might sound like a throwaway idea, but the Knicks stuck to their guns this season, getting better as the campaign wore on. They were always in the hunt in the Eastern Conference, but the belief in the tactics of Mike Brown and the commitment to playing the style of basketball he wants them to play have paid dividends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the Knicks playing in the 2026 NBA Finals?
The San Antonio Spurs, in a rematch of the 1999 Finals.
When did the Knicks last reach the Finals, and when did they last win it?
Their first Finals since 1999, chasing a first title since 1973.
Why did the Knicks replace Tom Thibodeau with Mike Brown?
The front office felt Thibodeau had peaked, and turned to two-time Coach of the Year Mike Brown to take them further.
Conclusion
The story of the Knicks’ rise is less about one magic signing and more about a lot of patient, deliberate choices stacking up over time: a front office willing to play the long game, smart bets on players like Brunson before they had fully arrived, faith in role players who repaid it, and the nerve to make hard calls even after a successful season. None of it guaranteed a championship, and the Spurs will be a stiff test. But a team that spent the late 2010s near the bottom of the league is now four wins from a title it last claimed in 1973, and that turnaround alone has already made believers out of a long-suffering fanbase.
