Stephen A. Smith Makes Bold Knicks NBA Finals Claim Ahead of 2025-26 Season

For the Knicks, they hired Mike Brown as their new head coach after firing Tom Thibodeau and they also signed Guerschon Yabusele, Jordan Clarkson, Malcolm Brogdon and Landry Shamet in free agency to upgrade their bench.

By making these moves, the Knicks are looking to make a run at a championship this season with Brunson and Towns leading the way.

Stephen A. Smith Predicts Knicks Will Reach NBA Finals

Of course, the East is a weaker conference entering the new season due to injuries to Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, along with Damian Lillard’s injury that saw him be waived by the Milwaukee Bucks and sign with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Because of this, the Knicks are in prime position to make a run to the NBA Finals and ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith believes that will be the case.

“I'm looking forward to my Knicks capitalizing off of the Achilles tear to Jayson Tatum... Damian Lillard... Tyrese Haliburton. ... The New York Knicks are going to the NBA Finals. It happened by default... I wish them all well,” Smith said on ESPN’s “First Take” on Tuesday.

Smith is a well-known Knicks fan and he believes that they will be able to take advantage of the weakened East and be able to make a run to the NBA Finals this season while also wishing the injured stars a speedy recovery this season.

For the Knicks, they have built a great core led by Brunson and Towns that have them among the favorites to win the East this season, though they do still have some tough competition.

Smith mentioned both the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers as teams that could derail the Knicks’ potential run to the NBA Finals, though he believes New York will be able to make a run.

Despite this, a lot can change over the course of the NBA season but the Knicks will enter the new season among the favorites to represent the East in the NBA Finals.