Karl-Anthony Towns warms up before a Knicks game.
© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
The New York Knicks were eliminated from the Eastern Conference Finals by the Indiana Pacers last weekend. Just two days later, the team was spotted enjoying nightlife in the Big Apple.
That party was well-deserved after the Knicks reached the ECF for the first time in a quarter-century. It also helped refute some reported drama surrounding the franchise.
New York finished two wins shy of an appearance in the NBA Finals. A highly contested series with the Pacers ultimately ended on Saturday night. As soon as the offseason hit, reports of unhappiness surfaced.
A story of players’ frustration with Jalen Brunson’s dad, Rick, circulated this week. The reasoning for that supposed anger was unclear.
Multiple Knicks players have been unhappy with the presence of assistant coach Rick Brunson, the father of star guard Jalen Brunson. What that issue is, exactly, has not been determined, though sources suggested that Rick has had too big a say in things.
One source called Rick the person with the most power in the entire organization. His status is uncertain following Thibodeau’s dismissal, though considering he’s Jalen’s dad, many assume Rick will remain with the team in some capacity.
-Sam Amico
The biggest rift involved Karl-Anthony Towns, however. Reports of “internal frustration” on KAT’s “defensive shortcomings” arose hours after New York’s playoff elimination.
They were unhappy with a lack of communication and a tendency to execute incorrect coverages. Players and coaches didn’t believe he was serious about fixing bad habits.
That narrative was further fueled by a sideline spat between Towns and teammate OG Anunoby in Game 1 of the Indiana series after a defensive breakdown. While things might’ve been tense on the court, they’ve been the quite opposite away from it.
The Knicks partied in NYC after the season ended, Karl-Anthony Towns included.
KAT, Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, and others were spotted at The Fleur Room in Chelsea on Monday night. It was roughly 48 hours after the team was dumped by the Pacers in the NBA Playoffs.
Photos from the night were posted online by the New York Post. Players were enjoying their offseason as a group.
Some viewed that as a negative, questioning commitment to winning a championship. Others, however, saw it as a positive.
Frustrations seemed eased amid the recently reported drama. The team was all smiles. Unfortunately, that happiness might’ve been short-lived for some.
A day later, head coach Tom Thibodeau was fired despite the playoff success. New York will now look to find his replacement in hopes of making another deep run.