Knicks’ Unlikely Run: How a ‘Bunch of Good Players’ Defied Odds for Finals Berth

How the Knicks defied the odds with a “bunch-of-good-players” model

The Knicks’ journey to the Finals is a masterclass in what the New York Times calls the “bunch-of-good-players” approach—an underrated strategy that has eluded most teams since the 2004 Pistons and 2014 Spurs. Unlike franchises built around a single superstar (look at the Lakers, Warriors, or Celtics), New York’s core—Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson, and Josh Hart—operates as a collective machine. The difference this postseason? Coach Mike Brown’s bold pivot: retooling Towns from a traditional big man into a playmaking facilitator, a role that has unlocked a new dimension of offense. As Marv Albert, the NBA’s most iconic voice, put it: “They’re not the same team we saw in the regular season. They were good, but they’re not the same.” The transformation began in December after a slump that saw the Knicks lose three straight to contenders. Ownership’s rare public declaration—“we love our team right now” and “we should win the Finals”—from James Dolan became a rallying cry. The response was immediate: Brunson dropped 31 on the Sixers, then 42 on the Nuggets; Towns racked up double-doubles; and the defense, once porous, tightened into a playoff juggernaut. The result? 24 wins in 30 games since March 11, including a sweep of the Cavs and 11 straight playoff victories—a stretch where New York has allowed 100+ points just three times. But the real test arrives Wednesday, when the Knicks face a Spurs team that has thrived on physicality and depth. Wembanyama, the 7’4” phenom, looms as the x-factor. Robinson’s broken finger—“a major blow defensively” against Wembanyama, per Albert—could force Towns back into a one-on-one role, stripping the Knicks of their signature spacing. “If Robinson isn’t available,” Albert warned, “that will take away his role that was so successful.” The Spurs, meanwhile, boast their own “bunch-of-good-players” led by LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan, a duo that has outlasted superteams in San Antonio’s 2014 dynasty.

The Knicks’ path isn’t just about basketball—it’s about identity. In a city where the Yankees, Mets, Giants, and Rangers divide loyalties, the Knicks are the unifying force. “The Knicks are the one team that makes New York feel like a small town,” ESPN’s Mike Greenberg told USA Today. “Everyone is wearing their Knicks shirts and yelling ‘Go Knicks’ in the street.” Greenberg, a lifelong fan who covered 30 Super Bowls, made a striking comparison: “The Knicks being in the Finals is bigger in New York than the Super Bowl.” Even the Spurs’ roster reflects this—Julian Champagnie, a Brooklyn native, is proof that the city’s DNA runs deeper than any franchise.

The injury that could decide the Finals: Robinson’s finger and the Towns-Wembanyama matchup

Mitchell Robinson’s finger injury is the wild card. The Knicks’ starting center has been a defensive anchor, using his length to disrupt Wembanyama’s rhythm. Without him, Towns—who has thrived as a passer—would revert to a traditional post-up role, a liability against the Spurs’ size. “He would bother Wembanyama a bit,” Albert said. “If Robinson isn’t available, that places Towns back in a position where he’ll be on Wemby.” The stakes couldn’t be higher. Wembanyama, at 22, is already being compared to the all-time greats. “He’s just an incredible player,” Albert said. “That wingspan is prolific. He’s a three-point shooter.” The Knicks’ offense revolves around Towns initiating plays, but if he’s stuck guarding Wembanyama, the Spurs’ defense could collapse the paint, forcing New York into isolation—an area where they’ve struggled historically. The injury report is fluid. Team doctors have not ruled out Robinson for Game 1, but the longer he’s sidelined, the more the Knicks’ identity shifts. “They don’t have anybody to play significant minutes of value behind Towns,” Albert noted. The Spurs, meanwhile, have depth to exploit any weakness. Aldridge and DeRozan can switch onto Towns, while Wembanyama’s versatility means he won’t be confined to the paint.

For the Knicks, this is about more than one game. It’s about proving that a team built on fundamentals—defense, ball movement, and clutch shooting—can outlast a roster stacked with individual talent. “We equate champions with great players,” the New York Times observed, “but New York’s team is the ‘get a bunch of good players’ model.” The question now: Can they silence the doubters who argue that without a superstar, they’ll fold in the Finals?

Josh Hart’s journey: From Silver Spring to the Finals, with a mom’s dream realized

Josh Hart’s story is the human heart of the Knicks’ run. The Silver Spring, Maryland, native has spent nine NBA seasons as a role player—until now. His durability, versatility, and leadership have made him the glue that holds this team together. “It’s something I don’t know if I ever pictured actually happening,” his mother, Pat Hart, told WTOP. Hart’s path wasn’t linear: a transfer from Wheaton High to Sidwell Friends (a top D.C. prep school) was a struggle. “He came from Wheaton… not that it’s a bad school, but compared to Sidwell, which is one of the top five high schools in the country,” Pat recalled. “He did not have the required study skills for Sidwell.” Yet Hart’s work ethic and resilience paid off. His viral moment—untangling Jimmy Fallon’s shoelaces during a playoff game—captured the city’s imagination. Now, he’s on the verge of playing in his first Finals. “I can’t remember what age it was,” Pat said of Josh’s childhood NBA dreams. **”I remember Josh saying one time that he said, ‘I want to go to the NBA, and then after that I want to be a broadcaster.’ So you know my response to that was, well, my dream is for you to get a college scholarship. I said that’s all I ever wanted to see happen, so once he got his scholarship, it was like, well, I got my dream.”** Hart’s journey mirrors the Knicks’ own: a team that spent decades chasing glory, only to find it through patience and smart building. His Finals debut would complete a full-circle moment for a player who once wondered if he’d ever get the chance.

Why New York feels different this time—and what’s at stake

The Knicks’ Finals run has ignited a city that has long been divided. “Every other sport has more than one team,” Suzyn Waldman, the voice of the Yankees and former Knicks broadcaster, told USA Today. “For a long time, it was just the Knicks. It’s the city’s sport.” Basketball is woven into New York’s DNA—from the courts of Harlem to the playgrounds of Brooklyn. The Knicks’ success has turned the city into one giant fanbase, with strangers bonding over jerseys and predictions. But the pressure is immense. The last time New York reached the Finals was in 1999, when Patrick Ewing’s team lost to the Spurs in five games. Since then, the Knicks have been a cautionary tale: bad trades (Bargnani), missed drafts, and a franchise that seemed cursed. This team, however, is different. They’ve avoided the “shiny object” syndrome that plagued past regimes. “After three decades of chasing every shiny object,” the Times noted, “the Knicks under Leon Rose have been a model of strategic patience mixed with timely impatience.” The Spurs, meanwhile, are a team that has thrived on experience. LaMarcus Aldridge (38) and DeRozan (35) are veterans who know how to win in October. But youth is on the Knicks’ side—Brunson (29), Towns (31), and Robinson (26) are in their primes. If they can close the deal, they’ll join an elite group: the only true “bunch-of-good-players” champions since 2004.

The road ahead is clear: Game 1 on June 3 at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks enter as underdogs in the narrative, but the city’s energy is electric. “The moment I went down to the Village to visit my parents,” Greenberg recalled of the 2014 Super Bowl, “you would not have been aware the Super Bowl was in New York.” This time, it’s impossible to ignore. The Knicks have turned New York into a small town again—and if they win, they’ll rewrite history.

What happens next depends on one question: Can they silence the doubters?