Knicks All-NBA Guard Calls Team Meeting Amid Losing Streak
Following a 114-97 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, the New York Knicks found themselves searching for answers at a critical point in the NBA season. All-NBA guard and team captain Jalen Brunson took it upon himself to address the situation, calling a players-only meeting to confront the Knicks’ recent struggles. After an impressive start to the year that included winning the NBA Emirates Cup, momentum has sharply shifted in the wrong direction. Night after night, boos have echoed through Madison Square Garden as frustrations continue to mount. With the Eastern Conference as open as it has been in years, the loss served as a clear wake-up call for a Knicks team that entered the season with legitimate NBA Finals aspirations.
Brunson, a three-time NBA all-star and second-time all-star starter, has carried a heavy load in an effort to keep New York competitive despite a nagging ankle injury. Despite his leadership and production, inconsistencies throughout the rotation have hindered the team’s progress. Injuries have played a role, but uneven play on both ends of the floor has been just as damaging. Karl-Anthony Towns turned in one of his strongest performances against Dallas, yet he now finds himself on the fringe of all-star consideration after appearing to be a lock weeks earlier. In a concerning trend, outside of Brunson and Towns, every Knicks starter was held under double figures in the loss, a startling development given that OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart all finished inside the top 20 of all-star voting. Perhaps most surprising has been the diminished role of Jordan Clarkson and Tyler Kolek, two players who helped stabilize the Knicks early in the season but have since slipped out of the regular rotation.
Pressure has also begun to mount on first-year head coach Mike Brown, with growing buzz around the league suggesting his seat may be heating up. The NBA has shown little patience for underperforming coaches, even those with championship résumés. Frank Vogel, Nick Nurse, and Mike Budenholzer are recent examples of title-winning coaches who were dismissed early, while only Erik Spoelstra and Steve Kerr have enjoyed long-term security since 2020. In the unforgiving New York market, Brown is no exception. Around the Eastern Conference, unexpected developments have further magnified the Knicks’ struggles. The Detroit Pistons have emerged as the top seed, while the Boston Celtics have remained ahead of New York despite Jayson Tatum missing the entire season. The Toronto Raptors, still transitioning out of a rebuild, are tied with the Knicks in the standings. Inside the players-only meeting, it would not be surprising if Brown’s name surfaced amid the frustration.
Since capturing the NBA Emirates Cup, New York’s defense has unraveled, allowing 119.6 points per 100 possessions, second worst in the NBA during that stretch, trailing only the Utah Jazz. Owner James Dolan’s declaration that the Knicks “absolutely have to” reach the NBA Finals has grown more ominous with each passing game. While the team’s 25-18 record mirrors last season’s pace through 43 games, the sharp contrast between their fast start and recent collapse is alarming. Whatever was said behind closed doors, whether addressing defensive lapses, offensive inconsistency, or coaching concerns, the message must resonate immediately. For a team with championship expectations, the margin for error is shrinking. What once felt like a season of promise could quickly turn into a first-round exit if the Knicks fail to respond.
