The New York Knicks have finally reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 and are just four games away from winning their first championship in more than 60 years. After seemingly struggling to find their rhythm in the first round, the Knicks suddenly clicked—and the next thing we know, they’re Finals-bound. Here are the three things that have worked wonders for the Knicks so far in the playoffs.
1. Karl-Anthony Towns’ New Role in Knicks’ Offense
As they entered the 2026 NBA playoffs, the New York Knicks had to find a way to activate Karl-Anthony Towns. And activating him effectively was exactly what they’ve done.
In contrast to last season, Towns is moving a bit differently right now. The 7-foot center is not throwing himself into isolation plays anymore, nor does he chuck a lot of threes. Instead, Towns has become a focal point of a new and improved offensive scheme as a facilitator to open up easy shots for his teammates.
Through 14 games in the postseason, KAT is averaging 6.0 assists per game—twice his average in the regular season—which proves that he’s doing more than just scoring for the Knicks. Towns has actually become New York’s secondary playmaker in the postseason.
Although he’s averaging fewer points in the playoffs (16.9 PPG) compared to the regular season (20.1 PPG), Towns’ efficiency has skyrocketed, and his defense has improved.
2. Coach Mike Brown’s Winning Culture
Jalen Brunson and company failed last year with Tom Thibodeau at the helm, even though the highly respected defensive-minded head coach handled the Knicks fairly well. Unfortunately, his style just couldn’t push the Knicks to the NBA Finals.
Enter coach Mike Brown, whom the Knicks’ front office hired after firing Thibodeau last summer. Brown’s résumé as a basketball coach is super impressive. He was an assistant coach during the San Antonio Spurs’ dominance in the early 2000s and led the Cleveland Cavaliers with LeBron James from 2005 until 2010. A few years later, he also became part of the dominant Golden State Warriors from 2016 until 2022, winning four championships in 25 years. Most recently, the two-time Coach of the Year was the man responsible for leading the Sacramento Kings to snap a 16-year playoff drought—the longest in any major U.S. sport.
Brown’s accolades and his multitude of experience as a championship-caliber coach could be an indicator that he’s pointing the Knicks to their first championship since 1973.
3. Villanova Boys Clicking
Of course, the Knicks wouldn’t be this far in the playoffs without their best player, Jalen Brunson, and two key players in Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart. Brunson has undeniably been the Knicks’ superstar, and his becoming the Eastern Conference Finals MVP is proof of that. Ditto for Bridges and Hart, who have both been massive contributors for the team game in and game out.
All three players played together back in college and won two NCAA championships at Villanova. The “Nova” boys were phenomenal as college players and are now even more exceptional in the NBA.
