In a recent appearance on ESPN’s First Take, former NBA champion Iman Shumpert expressed his concerns about the New York Knicks’ new roster, questioning whether the team is formidable enough to compete with the Eastern Conference’s elite, especially in high-stakes playoff scenarios. Shumpert, who won a championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers, offered a candid assessment of the Knicks’ roster following their significant trade acquisition of Karl-Anthony Towns (KAT).
“I love them on paper. Like, I love KAT, Brunson. I love him on paper. Like, he’s awesome. I don’t love him at the end of the game in the playoffs. Like, he’s not scary enough.”
“There’s got to be a guy who can go it alone in the playoffs. Me, being in the playoffs for years, all I know is a pick-and-roll requires adjustments, tags, rotations. The hardest thing to beat is knowing exactly what’s coming and it’s an ISO and there’s nothing you can do but watch.”
“We all have to sit here and watch and hope he doesn’t make that ISO. And I’m not against KAT or Brunson. I like both of them as players.”
“I don’t think they can go back and forth like that at the end of a game. And if they can, I’ll be excited to watch it. I like them on paper. At the end of a game, at the end of a game, I would take my chance and say, yeah, I’m going to guard Brunson and we’re going to rotate KAT.”
Iman Shumpert began by acknowledging the Knicks’ strengths on paper. He referenced key players Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns . Shumpert appreciated the individual talents and potential the Knicks possess with such a roster. However, his enthusiasm waned when he considered the team’s ability to perform under playoff pressure.
The Knicks’ starting five of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns has been touted as one of the league’s best, often compared and even considered superior by some to the Boston Celtics’ starting five. Brunson provides reliable scoring and playmaking, Hart offers defensive tenacity, Anunoby and Bridges bring versatile wing play and Towns anchors the team with his scoring and rebounding prowess.
Despite this impressive lineup, Shumpert remains skeptical of their playoff performance. Drawing on his own experiences in the playoffs, Shumpert stressed the importance of having a standout player who can dominate in isolation situations and adapt to defensive adjustments. He noted that while the Knicks have talented players, none of them have consistently delivered the kind of standout performances that can turn tight playoff games around.
Shumpert’s concerns revolve around the Knicks’ ability to handle the intense and unpredictable nature of playoff basketball. This highlights the tactical complexity of playoff games, where teams constantly adjust strategies to exploit opponents’ weaknesses. Shumpert believes the Knicks need a player who can thrive in such environments, someone who can create his own opportunities and maintain consistency under pressure.