Credit: Sports Illustrated
New York Knicks 2024-25 Recap: Hustle, Hope & Heartbreak
Published: Monday, June 30, 2025
by Matthew Nazario
Season Summary
As the 2024-25 NBA season has reached its conclusion, one thing remains certain: there were no dull days for fans of the New York Knicks this year.
For each of the stunning victories and late game heroics, there seemed to be an equally astonishing defensive meltdown or fundamental collapse that led to crushing defeat. The most devastating instance of this being Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers.
One of the highlights of their season included eliminating their division rival Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The seismic shake of excitement during that time was felt throughout all five boroughs of New York. However, this feeling vanished only one playoff series later, as the Knicks suffered what many saw as a shocking exit at the hands of Indiana.
For as anti-climactic as the end of their season was, the Knicks won 51 regular season games, which was their highest win total since 2012. They also clinched the third seed in the Eastern Conference, as well as making their first Eastern Conference Finals since 2000. This was arguably their greatest season since the late 1990s.
As the Knicks have already made a handful of changes following the NBA Finals, where do they stand as we patiently await the 2025-26 season?
An Offensive Juggernaut at the Expense of Defense
If nothing else, having Tom Thibodeau at the helm of a team usually produces incredibly tough and smart basketball on the defensive end. Hustling for closeouts, loose balls, and overall gritty defensive play are a staple amongst Thibodeau’s teams. The Knicks were certainly no exception heading into this season.
However, the defensive play during the Knicks’ 2024-25 campaign took a very noticeable step back. More specifically, they were amongst the league’s worst teams when defending the three-point shot, which would haunt them at various points in the season.
On a more positive note, the offense, with the additions of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, saw incredible amounts of growth. The Knicks ended the season with an offensive rating of 118.5, the fifth best in the league, often receiving support from every area of their starting lineup.
Towns in particular was an offensive powerhouse in his first season in New York, averaging a double-double in the regular season coupled with incredible playoff performances. But defensively, the Knicks’ star was very much a liability. The lineup appeared to be somewhat awkward in terms of flow, efficiency and floor spacing when both Towns and Brunson were on the court together.
Bridges, who has undergone constant change in terms of his style of play in recent years, seemed to struggle finding his proper fit in the New York lineup. Transitioning from a defensive specialist in Phoenix, to the main star in Brooklyn, and now a supporting cast member with the Knicks, the guard was unable to live up to the expectations that many fans held for him until his impactful playoff performance.
Additionally, Jalen Brunson further solidified himself as the leader of the squad due to his incredible play, offensive prowess, and especially his clutch time performance.
The bench is an area of the roster that left much to be desired outside of a few good stretches, which New York will likely hope to address over the offseason.
Overall, the imbalance between their offense and defense caused issues as they progressed in the playoffs. However, the Knicks still possess a tremendous offensive unit that just needs to tighten things up on the other end of the court.
The Abrupt Firing of Tom Thibodeau
What is incredibly important to emphasize is that Tom Thibodeau was one of the best coaches the Knicks could have asked for during this period in time. His resume solidified himself amongst the greats in Knicks coaching history.
During his five-season tenure, he led New York to four playoff appearances with two trips to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Prior to his arrival, the Knicks dwelled in the cellar of the Eastern Conference for the better part of the 2010s. However, under Thibodeau’s guidance, they are now one of the most intimidating forces in the East.
Thibodeau gained many critics for his coaching strategies. More specifically, his lineups and how much time his starters would play. This criticism dates back to his days as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls, as many blame him for the overuse and eventual injury of former MVP Derrick Rose.
During the 2023-24 playoffs, half of the Knicks team found itself on the injured reserve, or simply ran out of gas by the semifinals. This year, the starter-heavy rotations and lack of solid bench play was once again an issue, and something that the Pacers were able to take advantage of enroute to their victory.
For as successful as Thibodeau was, the Knicks front office clearly felt that they had reached their ceiling with him at the helm. Was it too soon to pull the plug? Possibly. But under the bright lights of New York City media, even Thibodeau knows your work is under a million times more surveillance than anywhere else.
The Knicks certainly have their sights set on reaching the NBA Finals next season, however there are many areas of the team that must be addressed throughout this offseason. It will be interesting to see how the front office chooses to do so, as well as the heights that New York can reach in the coming years.
Matthew Nazario can be reached at matthew.nazario@student.shu.eduPosted in: sports,