The New York Knicks have hit a rough patch in the 2023-2024 NBA season. Despite boasting a talented roster with players like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns (KAT), the team has struggled to compete at the highest levels against the best teams in the league. In particular, their recent matchups against Eastern Conference juggernauts like the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers have exposed glaring weaknesses in their game plan, notably in the depth of their roster. Kevin Garnett, a Hall of Famer and former NBA champion, recently weighed in on the Knicks’ struggles, stating that Brunson and KAT need to have a serious conversation with head coach Tom Thibodeau (Thibs) about the lack of bench production and rotation issues. The message is clear: in order to contend with the Celtics, Cavaliers, and other elite teams, you cannot afford to play without a solid bench unit.
The Knicks’ Recent Struggles
The Knicks have shown flashes of brilliance, particularly from their star players like Jalen Brunson, who has taken on a leadership role since his arrival in New York. Brunson’s poise, scoring ability, and clutch performances have made him one of the best point guards in the league. However, even with Brunson’s stellar play, the Knicks have found themselves in difficult battles against teams like Boston and Cleveland. What’s become evident in these games is that the Knicks simply don’t have the same level of depth as their opponents.
Against the Boston Celtics, a team that boasts multiple All-Stars and one of the deepest rosters in the NBA, the Knicks fell short in several key areas. The Celtics’ ability to rotate in fresh legs and maintain intensity on both sides of the ball overwhelmed New York in critical moments. The same pattern emerged in their matchup with Cleveland. The Cavaliers, led by the dynamic duo of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, also made use of their superior depth to dominate the Knicks in the second half, turning games in their favor with timely substitutions and sustained effort.
It’s not just about star power in the NBA anymore; depth is essential. Without a solid bench, even the most talented starters can get worn down over the course of a long season, especially in high-stakes games against elite teams. The Knicks’ struggles highlight a key issue with their current setup: their bench isn’t providing the necessary production to maintain competitiveness in these crucial matchups.
Kevin Garnett’s Critique: A Call for Change
Kevin Garnett’s comments regarding the Knicks’ struggles are direct but insightful. Garnett, who was known for his leadership, intensity, and basketball IQ throughout his career, understands the importance of depth in the modern NBA. He pointed out that it’s impossible to compete against the likes of Boston and Cleveland without a reliable bench. Garnett emphasized that teams need more than just their starting five to win championships in today’s game.
“You can’t go against Boston and Cleveland and not have a bench,” Garnett said. “It’s just not possible. The level of competition is too high, the games are too long, and the pressure is too great for a team to rely solely on its starters.”
For Garnett, this isn’t just about finding players who can come off the bench and fill minutes — it’s about having a group of players who can consistently contribute and impact the game. The Knicks, as Garnett sees it, need to make some serious adjustments to their bench rotation. Brunson and KAT, the team’s two cornerstones, need to be involved in this conversation with head coach Thibodeau.
The Importance of Depth in Modern NBA
The modern NBA is a game of pace, space, and depth. Teams no longer rely solely on their starting five to win games. The days of the “Iron Man” player who plays 40 minutes a night are fading. The best teams in the league have learned the importance of rotating fresh legs, maintaining defensive intensity, and ensuring that the bench players can step up when needed. This is particularly critical against the top-tier teams that have the ability to go 10-12 players deep.
In recent years, the Celtics and Cavaliers have both excelled in this area. Boston, with its combination of young talent and veteran players, has a bench that can compete with any team in the league. Players like Derrick White, Malcolm Brogdon, and Grant Williams provide a mix of scoring, defense, and playmaking that allows the Celtics to maintain their level of play even when their stars are off the court. Similarly, Cleveland’s depth, including players like Jarrett Allen, Isaac Okoro, and Caris LeVert, has been crucial in keeping the team competitive in their Eastern Conference battles.
For the Knicks, the lack of reliable contributions from the bench has been a major issue. The team’s role players have been inconsistent, with players like Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley unable to consistently provide the scoring and playmaking needed to take pressure off Brunson and Julius Randle. The absence of reliable bench scoring forces the starters to play extended minutes, leading to fatigue and diminished effectiveness, particularly in high-pressure games against tough opponents.
Brunson and KAT: The Leaders Need to Step Up
While the bench issues are certainly a significant concern, the leadership of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns will be key in addressing the situation. Both players have the potential to be All-NBA caliber talents, but in order to elevate the Knicks to the next level, they need to be vocal leaders in pushing for improvements in the team’s overall structure and rotation.
Brunson, in particular, has emerged as one of the top point guards in the league since joining the Knicks. His ability to orchestrate the offense and score in key moments has made him the team’s undisputed leader. However, Brunson cannot carry the entire load on his own. He needs the support of his teammates, especially those coming off the bench, to help take some of the pressure off his shoulders. If Brunson can facilitate the conversation with Thibodeau, it could lead to a better understanding of how the bench unit can improve, and ultimately, how the team can better contend with the top teams in the league.
Karl-Anthony Towns, as another key piece of the team, needs to play a more active role in pushing for roster changes or alterations to the rotation. As one of the most skilled big men in the league, Towns has the ability to impact the game in multiple areas, but he too cannot do it all alone. For the Knicks to challenge for a deep playoff run, both Brunson and KAT need to ensure that the team’s depth issues are addressed, whether that means working on bench rotations with Thibodeau or pushing for stronger contributions from role players.
Conclusion: The Knicks Need a Complete Roster to Compete
Kevin Garnett’s comments highlight a critical issue for the New York Knicks: they cannot expect to compete with elite teams like Boston and Cleveland without a solid bench. While the Knicks have strong starting players like Brunson and KAT, they need to improve their bench depth to have a real chance at success in the postseason. For the team to get over the hump, Brunson and Towns must take leadership roles and push for necessary changes with Thibodeau. If they can get the bench to contribute more consistently, the Knicks will be in a much better position to compete against the best teams in the league and make a serious run at the playoffs.
As Garnett wisely pointed out, depth is no longer optional in today’s NBA — it’s a necessity. The Knicks’ ability to build a more complete roster will determine whether they are contenders or merely pretenders. The conversation between Brunson, KAT, and Thibodeau might just be the turning point the Knicks need to take the next step.