The New York Knicks should be feeling pretty good about themselves going into the upcoming season. They had a stellar run during their 2024-25 season and made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, only to lose to the Indiana Pacers. But, even with that heartbreaking loss, there’s no denying that the Knicks had an incredible 2024-25 run and are primed to do it again.
This time around, of course, the Knicks will have a new head coach in Mike Brown. They let go of head coach Tom Thibodeau during the offseason, which was a bit of a surprise, but the franchise is hoping that Brown will bring the fast pace and coaching knowhow to the floor and get the Knicks over that final hump to the championship.
The Knicks have a huge returning favorite in star player Jalen Brunson, so he’ll also add a lot going into the 2025-26 season. But, one of the Knicks’ budding rivals has snatched a player that some say could be the next Brunson. At the same time, there’s only one Brunson, and thankfully, New York has him.
New York Knicks Should Watch Their Backs With Up-and-Comer
Jalen Brunson is one of the biggest names in the NBA right now, and it wouldn’t be hyperbole to say that he’s one of a handful of “faces” in the association. But, the Dallas Mavericks may have the next Brunson. In a story published on Saturday, July 12, for The Smoking Cuban, Noah Weber makes the case that the Mavs just snagged the next Brunson “without anyone noticing.” While the Mavs aren’t a traditional Knicks rival, a rivalry has been brewing over the past few years, and this could add to it.
In the piece, Weber discusses the Mavs signing Ryan Nembhard to a two-way deal, and he says that “this signing may truly end up being one of the steals of the summer when it’s all said and done.”
So, why does he have so much promise? Nembhard had a stellar first Summer League game against the Los Angeles Lakers, finishing with 21 points, five assists and one steal. He also shot 8-14 from the field and 1-2 from downtown. Weber adds that “his early rise is already reminding Mavericks fans of what they had with Jalen Brunson.”
“Brunson formed an incredible duo with Luka Doncic during the early parts of their careers, and now Nembhard has the chance to do the same thing with Cooper Flagg in Dallas,” Weber states, adding that already, this early, Nembhard and Flagg have formed a big on-court chemistry.
What Makes Jalen Brunson Like Ryan Nembhard
He also likens Nembhard to Brunson, because he’s an undersized guard who many had doubts about when he was coming out of college and going pro, because of his size and age. So, the similarities are there, and the comparison can certainly be made.
“Dallas may have truly just stolen Nembhard from the rest of the NBA,” Weber adds, “exactly like they did with Brunson back in 2018, and Mavericks fans should be elated about his future with the team.”
So, the Knicks better watch their backs, but at the same time, as mentioned earlier, there is only one Brunson. It’s worth keeping an eye on Nembhard when the Knicks are up against the Mavs, but for now, New York shouldn’t sweat it.
