Are the Knicks Actually Better Than the Team That Just Won the Championship?
The New York Knicks return most of their 2026 championship core while adding new depth. Could this roster actually be stronger than last season’s title-winning team?
The New York Knicks enter the 2026-27 season with a rare challenge: trying to improve a roster that just won an NBA championship.
New York kept most of the core that powered its historic playoff run, including Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart. The front office also reshaped the bench, giving the defending champions more experience and different lineup options.
That raises one major question: are these Knicks actually better than the team that lifted the Larry O’Brien Trophy?
Brunson and Towns Enter With Championship Confidence
The biggest advantage is continuity.
Brunson now enters the season as a proven Finals MVP and the unquestioned leader of a championship team. Towns also returns after showing he can thrive in high-pressure playoff situations.
That experience matters.
New York no longer has to wonder whether its stars can handle the biggest stage. They already have proof.
The Knicks Added More Bench Experience
The supporting cast has also changed.
Players such as Jordan Clarkson, Jose Alvarado and Andre Drummond give New York additional veteran depth and more options for different matchups.
Clarkson adds scoring off the bench, Alvarado brings defensive pressure and energy, while Drummond gives the Knicks rebounding and size behind Towns.
Those additions could make the regular-season rotation more flexible than it was during the championship run.
Losing Mitchell Robinson Still Matters
The roster is not clearly better in every area.
Mitchell Robinson’s departure removed one of New York’s best rim protectors and offensive rebounders. Drummond can replace some of that production, but Robinson’s defensive impact was unique.
The Knicks may still need another center to feel completely secure in the frontcourt.
That remains one of the few obvious questions on the roster.
Bridges, Anunoby and Hart Can Still Improve the Ceiling
Another reason for optimism is internal growth.
Bridges and Anunoby now have another full season of chemistry with Brunson and Towns, while Hart remains one of the league’s most versatile role players.
The more comfortable this group becomes playing together, the harder New York should be to defend.
The Knicks do not necessarily need another superstar. Greater chemistry from the players already on the roster may be enough to raise the team’s ceiling.
Are the Knicks Better Than Last Year?
On paper, there is a real argument.
The championship core is still intact, the bench has more proven options and the roster now carries the confidence that comes from winning it all.
The only major concern is whether the frontcourt lost too much with Robinson’s departure.
The Knicks may not be dramatically more talented than last season, but they could be deeper, smarter and more prepared for playoff pressure.
And for a defending champion, that might be even more valuable than adding another star.
