After reaching the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000, the New York Knicks are preparing for another deep playoff run in a wide-open East.
Following the acquisitions of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges last summer, the Knicks finished the 2024-25 regular season with a 51-31 record, placing third in the conference. Now, they’ll look to win their first NBA championship since 1973 after strengthening their second unit and extending Bridges this offseason.
According to a recent poll conducted by James L. Edwards III of The Athletic that surveyed more than 3,000 fans, over 80 percent of respondents said the season would only be considered a success if the team reaches the NBA Finals, with 11.3 percent expecting nothing short of an NBA championship.
“Progress doesn’t always have to be linear, but in the case of the Knicks, who are months removed from their first Eastern Conference finals appearance in 25 years and firing their winningest coach this century, it does,” [Edwards wrote](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6551249/2025/08/14/knicks-fan-survey-nba-finals/).
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While many factors will determine if New York can reach the Finals, the path appears clearer than recent years. The Knicks fell to the Indiana Pacers last postseason, but Achilles injuries to Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton have weakened two of their top rivals in the Boston Celtics and Pacers, leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers as New York’s fiercest competition.
Other rising teams, such as the Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks, could make noise. However, the Knicks enter the 2025-26 season with a star-studded roster and added depth, fueling heightened expectations.
With Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Bridges and Towns all under contract for at least the next two seasons — Towns holds a player option for the 2027-28 campaign — the Knicks’ championship window is open. Given the firing of former head coach Tom Thibodeau in June, it’s no surprise fans are demanding results.
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