The New York Knicks returned to glory during last season's postseason run only to fall short in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Indiana Pacers.
The Knicks' playoff run was a revelation for fans of the franchise as star point guard Jalen Brunson ascended the ranks to become one of the NBA's most explosive and dangerous clutch scorers, giving hopes for a longer run in 2025.
Lately, the Knicks have fumbled their way to four losses in their last six games amid Brunson's recent ankle injury, casting doubt on their ability to contend for an Eastern Conference Championship.
On Tuesday, the Knicks were given a doom and gloom prediction from former Miami Heat star and NBA champion Udonis Haslem that has fans wondering what the future holds.
"I'm not even going to talk about second round," Haslem said on ESPN Tuesday.
"First things first, this is championship expectations. You bring KAT (Karl-Anthony Towns) in...You sell your soul a little bit. You bring in more offense, you do that because you want to win a championship," Haslem said.
The former Heat forward warned New York fans that the Detroit Pistons are waiting in the weeds for a potential first round upset, especially sharp shooters Cade Cunningham and Malik Beasley.
"They are excited about this matchup...Jalen Brunson coming in or not, that ankle's not going to be ready for the summertime.
"I'm looking at Detroit and I'm thinking, this could be a first round exit for New York."
