CHARLESTON, S.C. — Due to NBA regulations, Karl-Anthony Towns is unable to participate in Knicks training camp until the blockbuster trade sending Julius Randle to the Minnesota Timberwolves is finalized.
So on Day 1 of camp at The Citadel’s McAlister Fieldhouse, the Knicks found themselves once again practicing at a deficit—just as they did for large stretches of last season’s 50-win campaign.
Mitchell Robinson suffered a stress fracture in his left ankle in December. Julius Randle and OG Anunoby exited the rotation with injuries in late January, while Isaiah Hartenstein battled an Achilles issue. Bojan Bogdanovic’s season ended in the first round of the playoffs, with Robinson and Anunoby both suffering significant injuries in Round 2.
For the Knicks, missing key players is nothing new. And head coach Tom Thibodeau, a believer in preparation and resilience, welcomes the challenge.
So does Jalen Brunson, who led the Knicks through similar adversity last season and echoed the team’s no-excuses mentality.
“It’s always next man up, but obviously when everything is put together we’ll go from there,” Brunson said. “We don’t want to make excuses if pieces are missing or injuries happen. We just want to go with what we have and move forward.”
As Thibodeau’s Knicks await the arrival of their All-Star floor-spacing big man, they’re getting a preview of what the roster might look like if Towns is unavailable for stretches during the season.
Towns missed 20 games last season after undergoing meniscus surgery, and he missed 51 straight games the season prior due to a calf strain.
“I think that’s part of an NBA season—you deal with what you have,” Thibodeau said. “There’s going to be foul trouble, injuries, illnesses. The next guy has to be ready to step in and get the job done. So whatever the circumstances, we’ll make the most of ’em.”
“It also gives us a chance to look at different combinations earlier than expected, so I’m focusing on the positives.”
Robinson didn’t travel with the team to Charleston, instead remaining in New York to rehab his surgically-repaired ankle, a source told the Daily News.
Precious Achiuwa and Jericho Sims are next in line to handle center duties.
Thibodeau also Sims when discussing the chemistry between Brunson, Bridges, and Josh Hart—three members of the 2016 championship Villanova Wildcats now playing together in New York.
“When you factor OG working with them, and Jericho, there’s a lot of new pieces,” he said. “So they’re all gonna need time together.”
Versatility at Point Guard
Thibodeau is encouraged by the team’s depth and flexibility at point guard when Brunson is either off the floor or playing off the ball.
Behind Brunson on the depth chart are Miles McBride, Cameron Payne, and rookie Tyler Kolek. Mikal Bridges can also fill in for short stretches at the one.
“I like the versatility because we have a number of guys who can play both on and off the ball,” Thibodeau said. “Sometimes that’s the hardest thing to guard. First, you want to create pace, and second, you want to create movement. Last year, we had Jalen off the ball with Josh initiating offense. Mikal’s comfortable with it, Deuce can do both, and Cam can do both. I really like that versatility.”
Bridges shared that his time running the offense in Brooklyn has prepared him for his new role in New York, where he may need to step up as a secondary playmaker.
“Yeah, for sure,” Bridges said. “It doesn’t matter who has the ball. Everybody feels comfortable playing fast, moving it, and finding a good shot. When you’ve got a lot of guys who can drive, kick, pass, and shoot, it’s good for the offense.”
Bridges Reflects on Brooklyn Struggles
Bridges admitted that he could have handled Brooklyn’s tumultuous season better, particularly during stretches of losing. The Nets, mired in chaos after the Durant and Kyrie Irving trades, finished 32-50 and fired head coach Jacque Vaughn before the season ended.
“The beginning was tough in Brooklyn, losing,” Bridges said. “Even personally, I didn’t handle it as well as I could. I always preach mental toughness and keeping your spirit, but it was something I’d never dealt with before. There was a lot of pressure and expectations, and I didn’t handle it the way I should have.”
“But coming here, it’s different. Everybody’s locked in and motivated. Coach Thibs has everyone focused, so it’s great to be here.”
Brunson, who kept an eye on Bridges throughout the season, was impressed with how his teammate expanded his game in Brooklyn.
“It may not have been a winning situation over there, but I saw him grow as a player,” Brunson said. “And more importantly, he was expanding his game and showing everybody what he can do.”
Team Bonding
As the newly-crowned team captain, the responsibility of fostering team chemistry naturally falls on Brunson. While it’s a new role for him, Brunson is ready to step up, even if he feels a bit out of his element.
“I don’t know. I’m not really a great team guy,” he joked on Tuesday. “But we’ll figure something out. We’ve got a lot of good guys on this team who’ll do whatever it takes to win. With mindsets like that, our chemistry is going to be just fine. That’s what this trip is for.”