It’s time for the final marks of the Knicks’ season.
It feels a bit like I’m a classroom teacher grading during the pandemic because of the extenuating (injury) circumstances and lack of in-person attendance.
Without question, it was a successful campaign for the Knicks. They finished 50-32 after they were projected to win 44 games — all while absorbing an avalanche of injuries.
The number of Knicks surgeries hit a ridiculous seven over a five-month span with procedures announced Wednesday for Jalen Brunson and Bojan Bogdanovic. Many ligaments and bones were sacrificed.
Unlike in NBA awards voting, I factor in the playoffs, and the Knicks won seven postseason games, their most since 2000.
There are some easy players to mark (the ‘Nova crew) and some difficult ones because of the injuries (Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson).
Here you go:
Jalen Brunson
Final stats: 77 games, 28.7 points, 6.7 assists, 47.9% shooting, 40.1% on 3s
Playoff stats: 13 games, 32.4 points, 7.5 assists, 44.4% shooting, 31.0% on 3s
Not much else to say about the best season in a Knicks uniform since at least Carmelo Anthony in 2012-13 — and it’s probably been much longer.
Brunson not only took his game to another level in the regular season, he elevated to higher ceiling in the postseason. If there was one knock (and it’s not insignificant), it’s that Brunson struggled in Games 6 and 7 of the Eastern Conference semis. But that’s not going to stop Brunson from getting the top score.
Grade: A+
Josh Hart
Final stats: 81 games, 9.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 43.4% shooting, 31.0% on 3s
Playoff stats: 13 games, 14.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 44.0% shooting, 37.3% on 3s
The numbers aren’t eye-popping, but don’t tell the whole story. Hart became the emotional leader of the Knicks, the glue that held them together despite powerful attempts to pull the season apart.
He again led the NBA in rebounds among players 6-foot-7 and under. He led the NBA in minutes after the All-Star break. He recorded his first career triple-double this season — then did it five more times. We’re sick of hearing Hart & Soul, but it fits too well to stop using.
Grade: A+
Donte DiVincenzo
Final stats: 81 games, 15.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 apg, 44.3% shooting, 40.1% on 3s
Playoff stats: 13 games, 17.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 41.9% shooting, 42.5% on 3s
Jumped into the starting lineup in December and quickly morphed into the East Coast version of Steph Curry, attempting and burying more 3-pointers than any player in the conference. The only one with more in the West during that span? Curry. DiVincenzo also destroyed the franchise record for 3-pointers in a season.
Not bad for a player who, like Hart, started the season as a backup. Easy A.
Grade: A
Miles McBride
Final stats: 68 games, 8.3 points, 1.7 assists, 45.2% shooting, 41.0% on 3s
Playoff stats: 13 games, 11 points, 1.9 assists, 43.5% shooting, 36.8% on 3s
A huge and unexpected leap in shooting efficiency for McBride, who went from under 30% from 3-point range in his first two seasons to over 40%. That allowed him to remain on the floor for long stretches and even carry the Knicks through sections of March and April. In other words, McBride did what Frank Ntilikina never could: He developed a consistent jumper.
Add in his hounding on-ball defense — which didn’t slack off (unless he was guarding Tyrese Maxey in the playoffs) — and McBride graded out at a 91 this season.
Grade: A-
Isaiah Hartenstein
Final stats: 75 games, 7.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 blocks, 64.4% shooting
Playoff stats: 13 games, 8.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.9 blocks, 59.2% shooting
Replaced Mitchell Robinson in the starting lineup early and established himself as an important part of success. The defense and rebounding were consistent, but Hartenstein also incorporated more offense this season because he gave Tom Thibodeau confidence to put the ball in his hands.
Hartenstein wasn’t just a starter in his contract year, he became one of the league’s top-15 or top-20 centers.
Grade: A-
OG Anunoby
Final stats: 23 games, 14.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 48.8% shooting, 39.4% on 3s
Playoff stats: 9 games, 15.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, 0.9 steals, 50.5% shooting, 41.0% on 3s
The formula was pretty simple. When Anunoby played, the Knicks were an elite NBA force that won more than 80% of its games. When he didn’t play, the Knicks were about average.
That would be great if Anunoby didn’t miss the majority of his games because of elbow and hamstring problems. So while understanding availability is an issue that’s followed Anunoby throughout his career, his two-way impact, when on the court, was remarkable and everything the Knicks envisioned.
Grade: B+
Julius Randle
Final stats: 46 games, 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 47.2% shooting, 31.1% on 3s
Playoff stats: N/A
Named an All-Star for the third time in four years after adopting a more efficient bullyball style instead of launching 3-pointers. But that aggressive play led to season-ending shoulder surgery — he was driving hard to the basket against Miami when it happened — and the Knicks did well with Brunson carrying the vast offensive load.
The circumstances lead to more questions about Randle’s fit and future with the Knicks, but that doesn’t diminish his offensive effectiveness when healthy.
Grade: B+
Precious Achiuwa
Final stats: 49 games, 7.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 52.5% shooting
Playoff stats: 9 games, 5.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 48.8% shooting
Started his Knicks tenure on the fringe of the rotation, but was forced into big minutes by February and seized the opportunity. Still, the Knicks just weren’t as good when Achiuwa was logging heavy minutes in February, going 4-8 in that month.
He was removed from the rotation for the playoffs, but, per the story of his season, returned amid injuries to Robinson and Anunoby. Overall, Achiuwa gave the Knicks more than expected.
Grade: B
Mitchell Robinson
Final stats: 31 games, 5.6 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 57.5% shooting
Playoff stats: 6 games, 2.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, 50.0% shooting
Was on an early path to an All-Defense selection before the season was derailed by injury. And unfortunately for Robinson, the campaign ended like this: He lost his starting job, experienced dropoffs in almost every statistical category and was ruled out of the playoffs because of a setback to his surgically repaired ankle. Tough season.
Health is the most important factor to Robinson’s career moving forward.
Grade: C
Alec Burks
Final stats: 23 games, 6.5 points, 0.9 assists, 30.7% shooting, 30.1% on 3s
Playoffs: 6 games, 14.8 points, 1.0 assists, 50.0% shooting, 42.9% on 3s
Saved himself from the team’s worst grade with a rejuvenated run in the Pacers series, emerging from out of the rotation to become one of the Knicks’ few offensive weapons. But they also lost four of five games when Burks logged at least 20 minutes in the playoffs, and his regular season was a disappointment.
He’s a free agent, and a third contract with the Knicks (he signed in 2020 and 2021) is unlikely.
Grade: C-
Bojan Bogdanovic
Final stats: 29 games, 10.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, 43.0% shooting, 37.0% on 3s
Playoff stats: 4 games, 6.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 29.2% shooting, 40.0% on 3s
Acquired to provide the Knicks a major offensive boost off the bench. Instead, he was inefficient, and watched his minutes fluctuate amid defensive concerns. His encouraging playoff start was cut short because of a foot injury, and, two surgeries later, Bogdanovic’s Knicks career might be over.
Grade: D+
Jericho Sims
Final stats: 45 games, 2.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 0.4 blocks, 69.1% shooting
Playoff stats: 5 games, 1.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 100% shooting
The glut of injuries offered an opportunity to seize consistent playing time, but Sims never got there. Fouling remains an issue, and he still doesn’t look comfortable with the ball. He’s an exceptional athlete — and a source said teams expressed interest if Sims becomes available — but his growth hit a roadblock this season.
Grade: D
Tom Thibodeau
Record: 50-32
Playoff record: 7-6
Squeezed the most out of his injury-depleted roster, achieving full buy-in from the star (Brunson) and guiding several players (Brunson, Hart, DiVincenzo, McBride, Hartenstein) to career-best seasons. His Knicks were a well-balanced seventh in offensive rating and ninth in defensive rating.
The big knock was Thibodeau again failed to reach the conference finals, a place he hasn’t been since 2011.
Grade: A-
Leon Rose
A home-run free-agency signing with DiVincenzo and a seemingly smart move to lock up Hart in the summer. The Anunoby trade was also a big plus until the injury. We have to wait and see how the careers of RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley pan out in Toronto.
Rose deserves his flowers for building a winning roster while maintaining all possibilities for the future. The first-round picks are all still available. But in the short term, there was a missed opportunity to at least get the Knicks into the conference finals. The trade-deadline deal with the Pistons didn’t work out, and the Knicks, depleted to the bones without reliable back-end depth, fell just one game short.
Grade: B+
