The New York Knicks ranked dead-last in the league in bench scoring last season, averaging just 21.7 points per game from a league-low 12.7 minutes. Those numbers did not improve significantly in the playoffs, either, as New York managed just 15.7 points per contest across 18 postseason games.
In comparison, the Indiana Pacers — the team that defeated the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals — benefited heavily from their deep bench. Rick Carlisle’s men averaged an impressive 37.3 points per game in the playoffs en route to the NBA Finals, where they ultimately lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a seven-game series.
To address their weak bench, the Knicks made several notable additions this year, including Jordan Clarkson, Guerschon Yabusele, Malcom Brogdon and Landry Shamet, while bringing back the entire roster that reached the Conference Finals.
In Clarkson and Brogdon, the Knicks will have two former Sixth Man of the Year awardees on the same roster, boasting of unprecedented bench scoring.
Depth Still a Concern?
Despite the Knicks‘ active offseason, ESPN’s Kevin Pelton believes depth remains the team’s “biggest roster hole” entering the 2025-26 season.
Anticipating a larger rotation under new coach Mike Brown, the Knicks added Jordan Clarkson to the backcourt and Guerschon Yabusele to the frontcourt, but still go just nine deep with proven contributors,” Pelton wrote.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday that New York re-signed Landry Shamet and might add Malcom Brogdon as another veteran option.
Pelton’s comments were rather surprising, given that many on his network expect the Knicks to be legitimate title contenders in 2025-26, and possibly the prohibitive favorite to represent the East in the NBA Finals.
Will Knicks Win it All?
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst believes that the Knicks have “opportunity of a generation” to capture the 2026 NBA title due to the injury-plagued Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers, who are expected to be without their respective superstars, Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, for the entirety of the season.
“They’ve gotta look around and see their opportunity. Jayson Tatum will likely miss most, if not all, of the season. Tyrese Haliburton, the same. The Cavs are dealing with several players coming off injury,” Windhorst said, via NBA Analysis.
“There have been a lot of years, Malika, where the Knicks had disadvantages that they couldn’t control.
“Now they’ve got the brakes breaking their way, their team has been put together, they’re built out, they’re in the best position we’ve seen the Knicks in to win the East in a generation.
“They have got to take advantage of this season.”
The Knicks last reached the NBA Finals in 1999, only to lose in five games to the Tim Duncan-led San Antonio Spurs. They haven’t been the favorites to win the East since the 1998-99 season when the Chicago Bulls lost Michael Jordan to retirement.
Mike Brown’s men enter the 2025-26 season with the second-shortest odds (+280) to win the East, behind only the Cleveland Cavaliers (+225). However, the Cavaliers will open the season without Darius Garland, who underwent offseason surgery.
Knicks Predicted to Face Major ‘Roster Hole’ Despite Offseason