Josh Hart made a claim that will make your head spin: The defending champion New York Knicks are still operating with an underdog mentality, convinced nobody expects them to win again. Can you believe that? This team just hoisted the trophy, and Hart says, “I don’t think we have a big target. Because I don’t think anyone is picking us to win again. We’re using it as fuel. We’re still the hunters. We’re not satisfied with one. So we’re the hunters, and we like playing that game.” If that is not pure, unadulterated championship fuel, I do not know what is.
Knicks Keep That Chip on Their Shoulder
That “chip on the shoulder” mentality apparently runs deep in that locker room. Miles McBride revealed the exact moment the Knicks knew they were championship material. He also tossed some serious praise to former coach Tom Thibodeau for laying the groundwork, saying, “Thibs did a great job, he built a great foundation.” You love to see that kind of respect. Mikal Bridges chimed in too, crediting the team’s postseason experience as the secret sauce for those unbelievable comebacks during their title run. Talk about having ice in your veins. Meanwhile, Landry Shamet is out there enjoying his offseason hobbies. Good for him.
Behind the Scenes: Denials, What-Ifs, and Dirty Laundry
Not everything is sunshine and trophies, though. Jalen Brunson had to publicly push back on a rumor that he, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges had signed on with former Villanova teammate Matt Kennedy’s wealth management practice. Sometimes you just have to shut that noise down fast. On the legacy front, Derrick Rose, a former Knick himself, said he “kind of had them winning the entire time” for the championship, which is pretty cool. But then he got real, acknowledging he believes future generations might actually forget him. Tough to hear, but honest. Another former Knickerbocker, Danilo Gallinari, reflected on the biggest “what-if” of his career, saying injuries, not talent, kept him from his full potential after he was traded in the Carmelo Anthony deal. And what about Dink Pate? The former Knicks guard is apparently “going in reverse.” Ouch.
League Buzz: Cheaters, Challengers, and Global Domination
Shifting gears to the wider NBA landscape, Anthony Edwards did not mince words about Madison Square Garden, singling it out as one of the league’s toughest road environments, putting it right up there with TD Garden. No surprise there. Kenny Smith went in hard on the Clippers, saying the NBA was totally justified in punishing them for “vehemently cheating” and circumventing the salary cap. You gotta love someone calling it like it is! But the biggest news might be brewing across the pond. EuroLeague owners are meeting in Lake Como on October 5 to discuss a potential NBA proposal to acquire the entire EuroLeague. The NBA does not just want to expand to Europe, it wants to eat it whole. Oh, and Jaylen Brown made his boxing debut in Nigeria, casually remarking, “I did 0 prep for this.” What a flex! So, as the NBA season looms, expect the “underdog” Knicks to be hunting harder than ever.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Posting and Toasting.
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