A pair of New York Knicks standouts could each be named to their first All-Star teams in 2025-26, per one pundit.
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New York is on the cusp of bettering at least its 2024-25 record, thanks to improved roster depth (it signed free agents Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson this summer) and a worsened Eastern Conference field (the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics each lost multiple starters year-over-year, including injuries).
The Knicks could be primed to benefit from an improved record with some additional accolades. Steve Aschburner of NBA.com posits that a pair of All-Defensive forwards, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, might graduate to All-Star status, joining five-time All-Star Knicks Karl-Anthony Towns center and two-time All-Star New York point guard Jalen Brunson.
Injury beneficiaries
“There are spots in the East to be had, with Boston’s Jayson Tatum, Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard, an All-Star with Milwaukee last year, all absent this season,” writes Aschburner.
Last year, the 28-year-old Anunoby enjoyed his most prolific scoring season ever with New York last year, averaging 18.0 points on .476/.372/.810 shooting splits, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.9 blocks in 74 healthy regular season bouts.
Bridges’ scoring last year took a slight dip from his output as the top option on the Brooklyn Nets in 2023-24, but the 29-year-old swingman out of Villanova still averaged a solid 17.6 points while slashing .500/.354/.814, plus 3.7 dimes, 3.2 boards, 0.9 swipes and 0.5 rejections while playing all 82 games for the Knicks.
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“The trick for both two-way Knicks is to shine enough behind Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, then not split consideration with each other,” Aschburner concludes.
The same team is rarely are able to field four All-Stars in the same season, although it does happen — having a great record doesn’t hurt. In recent vintage, this has played out for the star-studded Golden State Warriors in 2017 and ’18 (albeit while playing four healthy Hall of Famers in their primes en route to championships), the 60-win Atlanta Hawks in 2015, and the 2011 Boston Celtics.
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