One of the keys to achieving sustained success during the marathon NBA regular season is having a culture and game plan to build upon. Ever since Tom Thibodeau became head coach of the New York Knicks, they’ve had it.
You know what you’re going to get from Thibodeau-led teams. They will be physical and tough teams that will rely on their defense. Hitting the offensive glass is a tenet of their success on that end of the floor, and you’re going to get 100% effort and commitment from everyone on the floor, or they’re not going to play.
Adhering to these core values allowed the Knicks to find success despite some major obstacles during the 2023-24 season. New York has dealt with as many injuries as any other team in the NBA.
Julius Randle has been out since Jan. 27 with a separated shoulder and underwent surgery, ending his season. OG Anunoby has missed 26 of 49 games since he was acquired from the Toronto Raptors. Mitchell Robinson played just 31 games after undergoing ankle surgery.
This led to role players having to step up and throughout the season they responded. Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo, Miles McBride and Precious Achiuwa are some of the players whose numbers were called when the team was shorthanded and responded with big performances.
Following the team’s win over the Chicago Bulls in the season finale, point guard Jalen Brunson provided some insights into what makes things work for the team. They have avoided drama all season, as they are only focused on the task at hand.