The New York Knicks haven’t featured three All-Stars in the same season since the 1993-94 campaign, when Patrick Ewing, John Starks and Charles Oakley powered the franchise to the NBA Finals. More than three decades later, the question resurfaces: could the Knicks finally match that feat?
NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner thinks there’s a chance. In a recent preview, Aschburner singled out Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby as potential first-time All-Star candidates to join All-NBA standouts Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.
A Wide-Open East Picture
The Eastern Conference’s All-Star landscape appears more open this season. Former selections Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard are all absent due to injuries or roster shifts. That could create opportunities for newcomers like Bridges or Anunoby.
Still, Aschburner warned of stiff competition. “The trick for both two-way Knicks is to shine enough behind Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, then not split consideration with each other,” he wrote.
A potential new USA-International All-Star format could complicate matters further. Such a setup would restrict the number of available slots for American-born players like Bridges.
Anunoby Faces an Uphill International Path
Anunoby, who was born in London, might find himself up against an even tougher All-World lineup. That pool already includes reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, former MVPs Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Luka Dončić, as well as other rising stars such as Franz Wagner and Alperen Sengun, and veterans Domantas Sabonis, Pascal Siakam, Rudy Gobert, Kristaps Porziņģis, and Lauri Markkanen.
Anunoby, 27, is coming off a career-best season with 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while maintaining his defensive reputation. He also recorded 2.4 combined steals and blocks per contest and enters the second year of a five-year, $212.5 million contract that makes him the Knicks’ second-highest-paid player.
Bridges’ Breakout Postseason
For Bridges, the case lies not only in consistency but also in moments of brilliance. The 28-year-old forward signed a four-year, $150 million extension this summer, slightly below the maximum.
His first season in New York was uneven statistically — 17.6 points, 3.7 assists and 3.2 rebounds on 50% shooting — but Bridges delivered when it mattered most. In the Eastern Conference semifinals, he anchored the Knicks’ comeback victories against Boston with a pair of late-game defensive gems.
His steal from Jaylen Brown sealed a 108-105 win in Game 1. In Game 2, he and Anunoby denied Jayson Tatum’s potential game-winner. Both plays ranked as the top two defensive highlights in the NBA’s official Top 50 list last season.
A New System Under Mike Brown
How new Knicks coach Mike Brown deploys Bridges and Anunoby could determine their All-Star cases. Brown, who turbo-charged Sacramento’s offense into the league’s best in 2022-23, replaces Tom Thibodeau, whose heavy reliance on Brunson often left the wings marginalized.
Brunson and Towns remain the focal points, but Bridges and Anunoby could benefit from an offense designed to spread opportunities. Both players enter the season with reputations as elite defenders and increasingly reliable offensive contributors.
History Within Reach
GettyWill the New York Knicks have more than two All-Stars this season?
For a franchise long starved of national recognition, adding two more All-Stars alongside Brunson and Towns would mark a milestone. It would also serve as validation of the Knicks’ front-office moves, which positioned Bridges and Anunoby as long-term cornerstones.
Whether the All-Star drought ends in February depends on both health and opportunity. But with their defensive pedigree, improved production and expanded roles under Brown, Bridges and Anunoby appear closer than ever to making New York a three-star team again.
Knicks Poised to End 30-Year All-Star Drought