Why a Knicks and Cavs All-Star Must Start Off the 25-26 NBA Season with a Bang
Tomorrow, at 7 p.m. EST, the New York Knicks will start the 2025-2026 NBA season at Madison Square Garden, where they’ll take on a hungry Cleveland Cavaliers team that’s ready to take the franchise to the next level. Last season, even with momentum on their side, New York was eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals by the Indiana Pacers in six games. Cleveland was knocked out of the playoffs in the first round by the Pacers as well. With the Boston Celtics dealing with numerous injuries, many believe either the Knicks or the Cavaliers will hold that first seed positioning within the Eastern Conference by the time the regular season concludes. Both these franchises have some of the best starting lineups in the league, with both having solid rotational pieces playing behind the starters. These two teams want to start the season on a positive note and ensure they’re the top dog in the East. This opening night matchup will showcase both teams’ top stars and could very well be a back-and-forth battle from the opening tip to the fourth quarter buzzer. For the Knicks and Cavs, their top guys in Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell, must start the season with a bang and immediately make an impact, as their efforts in this first contest of the season will set the pace for the entire year.
Jalen Brunson
The two-time all-star caliber point guard has brought the Knicks to new heights in his three seasons with the franchise. By appearing in their first Eastern Conference Finals since 2000, it’s safe to say this New York team is back on the map and is willing to do everything it takes to not only make an NBA Finals appearance but win it all for the first time in 50 years. Brunson has been the team’s natural leader on and off the court, a focal point on offense, and is ready to showcase what he has in store this year with a brand new head coach at the helm in Mike Brown. In three games against the Cavaliers last season, Brunson averaged over 20 points a game. Perhaps, with coach Brown’s newfound philosophy, Brunson can outshine his performances from last year. A 30-piece or a 20-point and 10 assist game could be in the mix, depending on how the Knicks' other pieces click during this first game of the 2025-2026 NBA season. It’s a must that the two-time all-star starts the season off with a bang. The Knicks have plenty of fuel to fill the fire, especially after their disappointing elimination from the playoffs last year. Brunson and the other Knicks have a ton of desire to make this season full of memories that New York fans will remember for a long time.
Donovan Mitchell
For this six-time all-star, Mitchell has shown time and time again why he’s a top-15 player in the league. In his three matchups against the Knicks last season, the 29-year-old shooting guard dropped 25 and 27 twice, showing how much of an offensive threat he is to this New York squad. With another year under the belt of big men such as Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, while Mitchell is paired up with one of the best passers and ball-handlers in the league in Darius Garland, this team has the capability of being the top team in the East with at least 55-60 wins. Mitchell must start the season with a bang; it’s critical, not only for this Cavs team that was knocked out of the playoffs in the first round but for everyone involved, the players, coaches, and fans. He’ll want to showcase how much this team has grown since a year ago, and a big offensive night for Mitchell could have reporters, analysts, and fans swiveling their heads. The two-time All-NBA shooting guard had two games scoring over 40+ in the Cavs’ first-round playoff matchup against the Pacers last season. There’s a huge possibility that Mitchell carries over his exceptional performances into this season, especially against a top-tier contender like the Knicks.
