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When the Knicks hired longtime player agent Leon Rose as their president in March 2020, the on-court product wasn't the least bit appealing. They were in the midst of a seventh straight losing season, beset by a reputation known for instability and a constant struggle to attract star talent.
But it didn't take long for Rose to lay the foundation of a winning culture and meet the team's desperate expectations. In five years at the helm, the once-super agent has built a playoff contender, as the current Knicks are well on pace to achieve consecutive 50-win campaigns for the first time in three decades.
The Knicks believed that Rose's relationships and experience in the league would yield positive results in a front office role, and according to team owner James Dolan, their initially-shared vision is being realized.
"We're kind of there. [Karl-Anthony Towns] was sort of the last piece. I'm not expecting any significant changes," Dolan said on the latest episode of the Roommates Show podcast with Knicks stars Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. "Now it's all up to these guys, the coach, to make it happen. I don't know, do you think we're missing any pieces?...
"It feels like it's kind of a puzzle, where you change one piece, it changes all the other pieces. We've got to figure all that out, figure it out on the court. I think the fans, as much as they want it every day, they're on this journey with you. They do see it. I feel it. I feel the team is growing, growing, growing. I think the fans see the same thing."
While the Knicks haven't played at full strength for prolonged periods of time this season -- Brunson is the latest starter sidelined due to injury -- adversity isn't exactly impeding progress. Their record of 42-23 is best for third in the Eastern Conference, and they rank sixth in the NBA in average points, fifth in offensive rating, and third in field goal percentage.
It's no secret that Brunson is the catalyst. During the All-Star break, he ranked first in points, assists, and minutes among all 28-year-olds in the league this season, and in late January, he became the fastest player in Knicks history to score 5,000 points. Brunson has blossomed into a superstar in New York, and his family's ties with Rose are strong.
Now consider the two-way impact of Towns, averaging 24.2 points since joining the Knicks via trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves back in October. The veteran center is averaging a career-best double-double this season, despite nursing thumb and knee injuries for months. New York's deal for Towns also required sacrifice -- they were forced to say goodbye to veteran Julius Randle, who played a pivotal role in the franchise turnaround.
With a healthy two-headed monster of Brunson and Towns, along with reliable contributions from Hart, OG Anunobdy, and Mikal Bridges, the Knicks have a starting lineup that can instill fear in opponents and hope in fans. Of course, only time will tell if the gas left in their tank can take them on a deep playoff run this spring. But Dolan is pleased with the process and Rose's efforts.
"The hardest thing to do, particularly in the NBA, is to attract talent," Dolan said. "So who would be the best guy you could find in order to bring talent to your team? At that time, who was the No. 1 basketball agent? Leon Rose. I knew Leon. I'm going to get Leon to do this.
"[The conversaion] was short. He was ready... One of my favorite things we used to say in sales was, 'You can't fall off the floor.' At that point [hiring Rose], we were on the floor. He's been doing a great job."
New York will look to extend its win streak to three games in a must-see road matchup against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday. This time they'll be riding momentum from Mikal Bridges, who drilled a last-second three to give the Knicks an overtime victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.
Continue reading...
But it didn't take long for Rose to lay the foundation of a winning culture and meet the team's desperate expectations. In five years at the helm, the once-super agent has built a playoff contender, as the current Knicks are well on pace to achieve consecutive 50-win campaigns for the first time in three decades.
The Knicks believed that Rose's relationships and experience in the league would yield positive results in a front office role, and according to team owner James Dolan, their initially-shared vision is being realized.
"We're kind of there. [Karl-Anthony Towns] was sort of the last piece. I'm not expecting any significant changes," Dolan said on the latest episode of the Roommates Show podcast with Knicks stars Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. "Now it's all up to these guys, the coach, to make it happen. I don't know, do you think we're missing any pieces?...
"It feels like it's kind of a puzzle, where you change one piece, it changes all the other pieces. We've got to figure all that out, figure it out on the court. I think the fans, as much as they want it every day, they're on this journey with you. They do see it. I feel it. I feel the team is growing, growing, growing. I think the fans see the same thing."
While the Knicks haven't played at full strength for prolonged periods of time this season -- Brunson is the latest starter sidelined due to injury -- adversity isn't exactly impeding progress. Their record of 42-23 is best for third in the Eastern Conference, and they rank sixth in the NBA in average points, fifth in offensive rating, and third in field goal percentage.
It's no secret that Brunson is the catalyst. During the All-Star break, he ranked first in points, assists, and minutes among all 28-year-olds in the league this season, and in late January, he became the fastest player in Knicks history to score 5,000 points. Brunson has blossomed into a superstar in New York, and his family's ties with Rose are strong.
Now consider the two-way impact of Towns, averaging 24.2 points since joining the Knicks via trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves back in October. The veteran center is averaging a career-best double-double this season, despite nursing thumb and knee injuries for months. New York's deal for Towns also required sacrifice -- they were forced to say goodbye to veteran Julius Randle, who played a pivotal role in the franchise turnaround.
With a healthy two-headed monster of Brunson and Towns, along with reliable contributions from Hart, OG Anunobdy, and Mikal Bridges, the Knicks have a starting lineup that can instill fear in opponents and hope in fans. Of course, only time will tell if the gas left in their tank can take them on a deep playoff run this spring. But Dolan is pleased with the process and Rose's efforts.
"The hardest thing to do, particularly in the NBA, is to attract talent," Dolan said. "So who would be the best guy you could find in order to bring talent to your team? At that time, who was the No. 1 basketball agent? Leon Rose. I knew Leon. I'm going to get Leon to do this.
"[The conversaion] was short. He was ready... One of my favorite things we used to say in sales was, 'You can't fall off the floor.' At that point [hiring Rose], we were on the floor. He's been doing a great job."
New York will look to extend its win streak to three games in a must-see road matchup against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday. This time they'll be riding momentum from Mikal Bridges, who drilled a last-second three to give the Knicks an overtime victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.
Continue reading...
