NEW YORK — Head coach Mike Brown plans to keep using a smaller starting unit of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and Miles McBride after back-to-back wins over Brooklyn on Monday and Charlotte on Wednesday.
Brown opened the 2025/26 season with Brunson, Towns, Bridges, OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson, turning to Landry Shamet when Anunoby strained a hamstring. With Shamet now injured, Anunoby still rehabbing and Robinson no longer an automatic starter, Brown said the new five will remain in place “to see what direction it goes.”
The current group has logged 35 minutes together and owns a -10.3 net rating, but Brunson cited existing chemistry among the players, who ranked as New York’s most-used lineup members besides Anunoby last season.
Hart’s workload rises
Hart averaged 23.7 minutes over his first 10 games; that figure has jumped to 33.2 in his last six, including heavier fourth-quarter usage. Brown acknowledged Wednesday that leaving Hart on the bench late in a pair of earlier games “wasn’t the right thing to do.”
Off the court, Hart was the victim of a $185,000 jewelry theft on Sept. 5 at a Manhattan hotel while he was away attending a podcast event, according to a police report.
NBA Cup focus
A victory over Milwaukee on Friday would secure the Knicks the top spot in their NBA Cup group and make them the only franchise to reach the knockout stage in three consecutive seasons. Brown said he regularly reminds players of the tournament’s importance, calling pressure “a privilege” that helps prepare for the postseason.
Hart proposed awarding the NBA Cup champion a half-win in the regular-season standings to create an additional incentive; the title game currently does not affect team records. “For me, that’ll be watch money,” he joked, referring to the event’s cash prize.
Deadline outlook
In a video mailbag, SNY’s Ian Begley said a dependable backup point guard is expected to top New York’s wish list ahead of the trade deadline.
Source: Hoops Rumors
