‘That a real question?’ Knicks’ icy response as changes loom after revived NBA giant’s playoff exit

New York Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson says he’s “overconfident” about the team’s chances of going the next step in the future after getting eliminated from the Eastern Conference Finals.

And Brunson baulked at the idea that coach Tom Thibodeau wouldn’t be the man to guide the Knicks to the next level, however questions of Karl-Anthony Towns’ future are sure to be raised.

So is change coming in New York?

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The Knicks’ season is over after Sunday’s Game 6 loss to Indiana saw the Pacers advance to the NBA Finals for a showdown with Oklahoma City Thunder.

It marked New York’s first conference finals appearances in 25 years in what should widely be viewed as a successful season.

It came after the Knicks went chips in on this roster by trading for the likes of Towns, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby over the last 18 months.

Brunson was asked by a reporter after the Game 6 loss to Indiana if he thinks Thibodeau is “the guy to lift you to the next level?”

The star point guard responded: “Is that a real question right now? Did you just ask me if I believe if he’s the right guy? Yes. C’mon,” before exiting the press conference.

Thibodeau has guided the Knicks to four playoff appearances in four seasons since taking over the head coaching job in the 2020/21 season including consecutive 50-plus win campaigns.

However there’s been criticism of Thibodeau playing his starters too many minutes — although his side was fully healthy in the playoffs — and not having a big enough rotation. The Knicks also had just the 13th-ranked defensive rating this season, despite being an offensive juggernaut.

According to a report by the Athletic’s James L. Edwards III and Fred Katz, the Knicks coaching staff was “cautious of its future” this playoffs and aware there could’ve been “changes” if they’d lost to Detroit in the first round or Boston in the second round.

That report also states: “The coach has the backing of team president Leon Rose, league sources said, as well as full buy-in from Brunson, who signed with the Knicks in 2022 in part because he wanted to play for Thibodeau. But ultimately, owner James Dolan is the final decision-maker.”

Following Sunday’s disappointing loss, Thibodeau admitted the Knicks faced a critical off-season.

“Like you would do after every season, you take a step back, I think decompress, you do a deep dive on the team, and then you analyse what you think you need to improve upon. ... it’s a big offseason for us,” Thibodeau said.

Meanwhile, Towns’ future is likely to be a hot topic over the off-season and whether he’s the right for this team long-term.

Traded from Minnesota last off-season for Julius Randle and Donte DiVinvenzo, Towns has three years remaining on his contract that runs through 2027/2028.

The 29-year old centre’s defensive shortcomings has reportedly been a source of “frustration” from teammates, according to the same report in the Athletic.

“Publicly, Knicks players made veiled comments all season about poor communication causing their inconsistencies. Behind the scenes, they and coaches expressed frustration with Towns’ defensive habits — less concerned with his talent level and more with his process on that end,” it reads.

“Too often, Towns executed incorrect coverages without communicating why he did it. After it became a theme, players worried Towns didn’t grasp the importance of the matter.”

The Knicks have the fourth-most expensive roster in the NBA at over $193 million and are projected to be a luxury tax team in 2025/27.

They’re clearly in win-now, so will undoubtably assess all options this off-season to try and go two steps further next year.

Watch this space.