The NBA Finals concluded one week ago, and the world champion New York Knicks are the talk of the town. They proved many people wrong during the championship run. It’s time to reflect on their run and what it means for the league in the aftermath.
For starters, the 2025-2026 Knicks were built very differently from previous champions. None of the starting five were drafted by the New York Knicks.
Jalen Brunson signed via free agency, while Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges were acquired through various trades. Bench players Deuce McBride and Mitchell Robinson were the only core players drafted by the Knicks front office.
A championship from this core defies the odds that a championship team must be homegrown. The draft is still very important, but not every team has lottery luck.
Team building often requires strategic moves through free-agent signings and trades. Spending money and dealing draft picks in an intelligent way is a must when building a championship contender.
Financial flexibility is also very important. The New York Knicks would not be champions if Jalen Brunson had not signed a team-friendly contract two years ago.
Making the money work comes a long way when adding key players without going over the second apron. Many star players will not do what Jalen Brunson did financially, but it will be reflected as a difference-maker in hindsight.
Lastly, New York proved that a team can win a championship when their team leader is a small guard.
NBA teams have been reluctant in the league’s history to build their rosters around guards 6’2” or shorter. Jalen Brunson was doubted for his height all playoffs long but got the last laugh on all of the critics.
Team building will be dramatically impacted moving forward when constructing a contender based on a player’s height and position.
So, how will the league respond during the off-season? Will the NBA draft see a change in positional value toward guards?
The off-season has just started, and the league is due for a change in direction. Time will tell what role the Knicks play in creating that change.
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