The fake basketball is over, folks, and the Knicks just wrapped up their preseason with a solid win over the Raptors in New York! That’s it for exhibition games before the real deal kicks off with the championship banner(s) rising to the rafters of MSG. Coach Mike Brown even got a little caught off guard when asked about Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond, admitting he didn’t even realize KAT was only one assist shy of a triple-double. “He was waving me off, KAT is such a nice guy, I was gonna wave back,” Brown chuckled, showing a lighter side before diving into the serious business ahead.
The Real Talk About Repeating
Look, when you’re the defending champs, everyone’s gunning for you, right? Coach Brown isn’t shying away from that pressure. He’s keeping it absolutely real about the “elephant in the room” of defending their title. He said straight up, “It’s about the process. It’s not about the end result. We can’t think about the end result right now. We have a ways to go. This is a new season, new team and we’re gonna have challenges in front of us.” That’s the kind of honest talk you want from your coach. It’s like he knows the team needs to reset, even after winning it all.
He even dropped a killer analogy, talking about climbing a mountain. You might gain 100 yards, but then you get knocked back five or ten. It’s all about regrouping and figuring out how to keep pushing forward the right way. Brown’s focus is on making sure they embrace that process “without slippage.” He’s ready to call out the team if they start veering off track. You gotta respect that commitment to the day-to-day grind, especially when you’re at the top.
Brunson’s Voted Best For a Reason
So, who’s leading this charge? According to GMs around the league, Jalen Brunson is the NBA’s best leader, and Coach Brown laid out exactly why. This isn’t just some popularity contest. Brown says Brunson “studies the game,” which helps him grow constantly. But the real kicker? “He walks the talk. He works extremely hard, and he strives for perfection from himself.” When your best player sets that kind of example, it gives them massive credibility.
That credibility is huge for holding guys accountable. Brown highlighted Brunson’s toughness, explaining that as a leader, you sometimes feel isolated because you have to constantly strive for more. He’s “not afraid” to call out teammates, even if they might get pissed off or wonder who he is to tell them what to do. That takes serious guts! Brunson’s got that “thick skin” you need to tell teammates what they need to do better. He demands the best from himself, which empowers him to demand the best from everyone else.
This team is kicking off a brand new season with a target on their backs. With that banner going up and the challenges Coach Brown is already talking about, it’s clear they’re not resting on their laurels. It’s going to be a tough climb, but with Brunson leading the way with that kind of grit, you gotta feel pretty good about their chances to embrace the process and chase another ring.
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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