The New York Knicks are among the favorites to compete for an NBA title next season, but another star could still be in the mix for the future.
New York’s roster is almost set for next season. While Leon Rose and company are still in the conversation to add another premier free agent, such as Ben Simmons or Russell Westbrook, the team’s core and star power will remain untouched.
After making the Eastern Conference Finals last season, the Knicks seem interested in keeping things the same on the roster, with a head coaching change being the biggest move. The Knicks clearly have the talent to compete for a title, especially after adding more key depth, and they think making a coaching change is all they need to take the next step.
Of course, if the Knicks fall short again in 2026, things could change on that front. If the Knicks have a disappointing playoff run, they could look for some more star talent, including LeBron James.
The four-time MVP will be a free agent next summer, and NBA insider Marc Stein isn’t ready to write off the Knicks’ chances of landing James.
“I believe that James’ well-chronicled fondness for playing at Madison Square Garden makes it unwise to say he’ll never be a Knick,” Stein wrote.
While the Knicks had no interest in trading for James and giving up a key player in the process, if the superstar simply wants a chance at winning, New York would certainly have to be near the top of James’ list. Stein also noted that the Knicks’ front office, led by Rose and William Wesley, already has ties to James.
While it’s seemed likely that James will retire a Laker for quite some time, the King has shown no signs of truly slowing down, and that could lead to a storybook finish to his career in the Big Apple.
