New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) shields the ball from Brooklyn Nets forward Jalen Wilson (22) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Knicks, Nets both open with historic over/under win totals

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated Jul 16, 2024 12:58 PM ET

The Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks are headed in opposite directions.

While neither franchise has won a championship in roughly half a century or appeared in an NBA Finals in over two decades, the Knicks are trending up, and the Nets are in a full rebuild.

With the regular season three months away, Brooklyn and New York are opening at historic over/under win totals, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.

As noted by sports betting writer Ben Fawkes (citing sportsoddhistory.com), both teams currently have an over/under that they haven't seen in over 25 years.

The New York Knicks open at @DKSportsbook with their highest win total (52.5) since the 1997-98 season, per @SOHistory.

Knicks (50-32) went OVER their win total of 45.5 last season
— Ben Fawkes (@BFawkes22) July 16, 2024

The Brooklyn Nets open with an over/under of 19.5 wins at @DKSportsbook for the 2024-25 NBA season, their lowest win total in 30 years (per @SOHistory) #NetsWorld #BrooklynNets
— Ben Fawkes (@BFawkes22) July 16, 2024

After missing the playoffs in eight of nine seasons from 2005-2022, the Knicks went 47-35 during the 2022-23 campaign and advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals for the first time since 2013. New York had its first 50-win campaign in 11 years this past season and made it to the conference semifinals again.

Now, fully riding the "Nova Knicks" magic, the group could compete with the Boston Celtics for the top spot in the Eastern Conference over the winter.

One of the team's four former Villanova stars — forward Mikal Bridges — was traded from Brooklyn in late June.

Bridges not only joins star guard Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart to form a quartet of ex-Wildcats champions, but his departure leaves a serious void of star talent in Brooklyn.

Bridges led the Nets in minutes per contest (34.8) and three-point field goals per game (career-high 2.7) last season and was second in scoring (19.6 points per game) as well.

First-year head coach Jordi Fernandez has a tough task ahead. Brooklyn accomplished its top priority this offseason of re-signing star big man Nic Claxton to a four-year, $97M contract extension, but the Knicks are still clearly the kings of New York City.

Victor Barbosa

Victor Barbosa is a passionate follower of MLB, the NBA and NFL, with a deep interest in Boston-area teams. He graduated from Springfield College -- The Birthplace of Basketball -- in 2013 with a degree in Communications-Sports Journalism. Previous bylines include FanSided, Heavy and Syracuse

More must-reads: