Are the Knicks Better in 2026-27? The Surprising Truth About New York’s Roster

The Knicks won the 2026 NBA championship, but are they stronger heading into 2026-27? A closer look at Jalen Brunson, Andre Drummond, Mitchell Robinson’s departure and New York’s supporting cast reveals the challenges ahead.

The New York Knicks have finally reached the top of the basketball world. After 53 years without an NBA championship, the franchise delivered an unforgettable 2026 season, defeating the San Antonio Spurs in the Finals and bringing the Larry O’Brien Trophy back to Madison Square Garden.

But as the excitement surrounding that historic achievement begins to give way to the challenges of a new season, an intriguing question has emerged.

Are the Knicks actually better than the team that won the championship?

It might seem unusual to question a roster that has just accomplished something generations of New York fans had been waiting to witness. After all, the Knicks enter the 2026-27 campaign with Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart still forming the foundation of a championship-winning team.

However, the NBA rarely allows successful franchises to remain comfortable.

Every offseason brings changes, and even relatively minor adjustments can influence a team’s identity, chemistry and postseason potential.

For New York, the departure of Mitchell Robinson and the arrival of Andre Drummond represent one of the most significant changes to the rotation. Meanwhile, the development of younger players, the integration of experienced veterans and the management of several unresolved contract situations could shape the franchise’s immediate future.

The Knicks are undoubtedly capable of competing for another championship.

But whether they have improved enough to defend their title is a more complicated question.

The Knicks Kept Their Championship Core, but Mitchell Robinson’s Departure Changes Everything

One of New York’s greatest advantages entering the new season is continuity.

Unlike teams forced to rebuild their rosters after disappointing playoff campaigns, the Knicks have retained the players responsible for most of their championship success.

Brunson remains the unquestioned leader.

His extraordinary postseason performances established him as one of the NBA’s premier offensive players, culminating in a memorable 45-point performance in Game 5 of the Finals against San Antonio.

The Finals MVP demonstrated an exceptional ability to control games, create scoring opportunities and deliver when the pressure reached its highest level.

For the Knicks, having Brunson at the center of their offensive system provides a foundation that few teams can match.

Karl-Anthony Towns remains another essential component.

His combination of size, perimeter shooting and interior scoring creates difficult decisions for opposing defenses.

When teams focus their attention on Brunson, Towns can exploit opportunities around the basket or stretch the floor with his outside shooting.

That versatility gives New York multiple ways to generate offense, particularly against opponents capable of disrupting traditional pick-and-roll actions.

OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges provide defensive flexibility, allowing the Knicks to challenge dangerous perimeter scorers without sacrificing offensive spacing.

Josh Hart completes the core with rebounding, energy, secondary playmaking and the willingness to perform the demanding responsibilities that help championship teams succeed.

Together, those five players represent an established foundation.

But maintaining the same starting core does not guarantee that the entire team will perform at the same level.

The departure of Mitchell Robinson introduces a significant adjustment.

Robinson’s impact extended beyond conventional statistics.

His offensive rebounding created additional possessions, his defensive instincts helped protect the basket, and his physical presence gave New York an important advantage against opposing frontcourts.

During the championship run, those qualities helped the Knicks establish a demanding defensive identity.

Replacing them will not be straightforward.

Andre Drummond arrives with a different profile.

The veteran center possesses extensive experience and remains one of the most productive rebounders of his generation.

His ability to control the glass could help New York maintain its physical presence, while his preseason performances have offered encouraging signs of offensive versatility.

Drummond has demonstrated a willingness to attack defenders, operate in the post and occasionally explore opportunities away from the basket.

Those skills could provide Mike Brown with additional offensive options.

However, Drummond and Robinson are not interchangeable.

Robinson’s rim protection and defensive mobility provided specific advantages, particularly against teams featuring athletic interior scorers.

Drummond brings rebounding strength and experience, but New York must determine whether his defensive contributions can adequately compensate for what Robinson provided.

That adjustment could become particularly important during the playoffs.

Against elite opponents, small differences in defensive positioning, rebounding and interior resistance can influence the outcome of an entire series.

Brown must therefore build a system that maximizes Drummond’s strengths rather than expecting him to reproduce Robinson’s responsibilities exactly.

The financial implications of the move also deserve consideration.

Drummond joined New York on a relatively inexpensive contract, allowing the Knicks to maintain veteran depth without making another enormous financial commitment.

For a franchise managing an expensive championship roster, that flexibility could prove valuable.

But financial efficiency matters only if the team remains competitive on the court.

The Knicks must determine whether their adjusted frontcourt provides the same level of reliability that helped deliver the 2026 championship.

And that is only one part of the equation.

Jalen Brunson’s Supporting Cast Could Decide Whether the Knicks Are Better in 2026-27

If New York hopes to become a stronger team than last season, the improvement may need to come from its supporting cast.

The Knicks already possess established stars capable of winning at the highest level.

What they need now is greater consistency from the players surrounding them.

One of Brown’s most important challenges will be ensuring that the offense remains productive when Brunson is resting.

The Knicks captain is exceptional at controlling possessions and creating opportunities, but relying too heavily on his individual brilliance could become problematic over another demanding season.

Jordan Clarkson offers an experienced scoring option capable of creating shots when the offense becomes stagnant.

Jose Alvarado provides aggressive defensive pressure and additional playmaking, while Miles McBride contributes perimeter defense and outside shooting.

Landry Shamet gives New York another potential floor-spacing option, particularly in lineups designed to create opportunities through ball movement.

The question is whether those individual qualities can develop into a reliable second-unit identity.

A championship contender needs more than occasional scoring explosions from its reserves.

It needs consistent execution, defensive discipline and players who understand their responsibilities regardless of how many minutes they receive.

That challenge becomes particularly important when facing opponents with deep rotations.

Brown must find combinations that maintain offensive efficiency without sacrificing the defensive standards established during New York’s championship run.

The preseason has provided both encouraging signs and reminders that the process remains unfinished.

New York’s heavy defeat against Toronto exposed the difficulties that can arise when several established starters are unavailable.

However, the Knicks’ subsequent 122-120 victory over the Raptors offered a more positive example of the team’s supporting talent.

Shamet contributed 13 points, three assists and two steals, while McBride and Alvarado provided important perimeter shooting.

Those performances demonstrated that New York possesses players capable of making meaningful contributions beyond its established stars.

The next step is translating those flashes into dependable regular-season production.

Another intriguing factor is the development of Mohamed Diawara.

The young forward showed promising moments during his rookie campaign, combining athleticism and energy with the potential to become a more versatile contributor.

If Diawara earns a larger role, the Knicks could gain another useful rotation player without needing to make a significant acquisition.

That type of internal development can become extremely valuable for teams operating under financial restrictions.

Young players capable of providing meaningful minutes on manageable contracts help organizations preserve flexibility while maintaining competitive depth.

For New York, Diawara’s progress could provide Brown with additional lineup options, particularly when defensive mobility and athleticism become priorities.

But improvement will also depend on the established core.

Brunson must continue performing at an elite level, while Towns will need to remain a dependable offensive partner.

Anunoby and Bridges must provide the defensive versatility required to compete against the league’s most dangerous scorers.

Hart’s energy, rebounding and playmaking will remain essential to the team’s identity.

There is also the issue of health.

A successful championship defense requires managing physical workloads, especially for players who have already experienced the demands of an extended postseason run.

Brunson’s recovery from wrist surgery and Hart’s ongoing finger concerns illustrate why New York must carefully manage its most important contributors.

Even a talented roster can become vulnerable if injuries force key players to assume excessive responsibilities.

Brown must therefore balance the desire to win regular-season games with the need to preserve his team’s effectiveness for the playoffs.

That balance could become increasingly important as the Eastern Conference competition intensifies.

Philadelphia, Cleveland and other contenders will enter the season determined to challenge New York’s championship status.

Opponents will study the Knicks’ offensive tendencies, identify defensive weaknesses and develop strategies designed specifically to disrupt their established system.

New York cannot assume that the same approach will produce identical results.

The Knicks must evolve.

That does not necessarily require a dramatic roster overhaul.

Sometimes improvement comes from better spacing, more efficient rotations, stronger bench production and the continued development of existing players.

Those adjustments may appear relatively small, but they can make an enormous difference during a seven-game playoff series.

The Knicks already know they possess the talent necessary to win a championship.

What remains to be seen is whether the changes made during the offseason have strengthened the team or simply altered the balance of a successful formula.

Drummond could prove to be an excellent addition if his rebounding and experience translate into reliable production.

The supporting guards could provide greater offensive flexibility if Brown establishes effective combinations.

Diawara could become an unexpected contributor if his development continues.

And the established stars could benefit from another season of chemistry and shared championship experience.

But none of those outcomes is guaranteed.

The Knicks enter the 2026-27 season with an extraordinary opportunity.

They have already ended one of the longest championship droughts in NBA history.

Now they can attempt to build something even more meaningful.

Winning another title would transform their historic achievement into the beginning of sustained dominance.

Yet the difference between a championship team and a repeat champion often comes down to details that receive little attention during the offseason.

For New York, the most important question is not whether its roster looks impressive on paper.

It is whether the team can become more adaptable, more consistent and more difficult to defeat than it was during its championship run.

The Knicks were good enough to win it all in 2026.

To do it again in 2027, they may need to be even better.