For the first time in decades, the New York Knicks aren’t just aiming to improve — they’re aiming to win it all. And this time, it’s not just talk. NBA analyst Zach Lowe believes the pressure surrounding this year’s squad is unlike anything the franchise has felt since Patrick Ewing’s heyday.
“This is the most pressure a Knicks team has faced, I’m gonna say, since \[Patrick] Ewing’s prime,” Lowe said on *The Zach Lowe Show*. “This is the first year in forever where the Knicks legitimately face pressure of like, ‘If you don’t make the Finals, it’s a disappointing season.’”
It’s a bold take, but not an unreasonable one. The Knicks haven’t raised the Larry O’Brien Trophy since 1973 — a drought spanning more than 50 years. Ewing brought them close, leading Finals runs in 1994 and 1999, but both ended in heartbreak. Since then, the franchise has been more punchline than powerhouse, defined by questionable front-office decisions, draft busts, and fleeting moments of hope.
The 2012–13 Carmelo Anthony-led team was the lone bright spot of the modern era, winning 54 games before bowing out in the second round. That group was fun, but it never felt like a true title threat.
This time feels different. Jalen Brunson has blossomed into a star and a leader, Julius Randle has found consistency, and the supporting cast — from Josh Hart’s grit to OG Anunoby’s versatility — gives New York balance on both ends. For once, the front office seems to be making all the right moves. This isn’t just a good team; it’s a team expected to be great.
But expectation cuts both ways. In New York, pressure isn’t just part of the job — it’s baked into the culture. Fans have waited through decades of false dawns and rebuilds, and now their patience has run out. They don’t just want a deep playoff run. They want the Finals.
If the Knicks fall short, it won’t simply be a missed chance — it will feel like another gut punch to a fan base that has finally dared to believe again. The stakes are sky-high, the spotlight is unforgiving, and for the Knicks, the moment is now.
