The New York Knicks waited 53 years to become NBA champions again. Jalen Brunson doesn’t want them spending too much time celebrating it.
With the new NBA season approaching, Brunson said the Knicks must treat their championship as history and start over with the same mindset that carried them to the title.
“We know it’s a new journey, it’s a different journey, but the mindset has to be the same, if not better,” Brunson said during the Knicks’ media day.
New York ended one of the NBA’s longest championship droughts last season, going 12-1 over its final three playoff series. That included a sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Knicks will quickly find out whether they can carry that momentum into their title defense.
Their October schedule includes two games against Philadelphia and one each against Boston and Detroit.
“The first couple weeks of the season is going to show who we are and where we are,” Brunson said.
New York kept almost its entire championship rotation intact. The major departure was backup center Mitchell Robinson, who signed a three-year, $47.4 million deal with Boston. Veteran Andre Drummond, who played for Philadelphia last season, takes his place.
Coach Mike Brown said the Knicks will stick to the principles that brought them the championship: sacrifice, teamwork, competitiveness and trust.
There are still questions heading into the season.
Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart face uncertainty over potential contract extensions, while Brunson will be testing his surgically repaired wrist after playing through the injury during the playoffs.
Brunson acknowledged that winning a championship can change a team’s dynamics, but said communication and accountability will remain important.
“Winning can either help us or hurt us,” he said. “We have the personnel and the character to talk with each other and not take things personal.”
For Brunson, the message is simple: the Knicks may be defending champions, but this season starts at zero.
