Five under-the-radar difference-makers for the Knicks in NBA Finals

Hukporti was "Mr. Irrelevant" in the 2024 NBA draft, selected with the last pick of the second round. He appeared in 54 games for the Knicks in the regular season, playing solid defense while his offensive game is limited to putbacks and finishing lobs. Still, the Knicks will need someone to counter the Western Conference champions big men while Karl-Anthony Towns rests or sits with foul trouble. Hukporti will have to get boards and protect the rim, even if he may be a zero on offense.

Jose Alvarado, Guard

You can never have too many point guards available to face the ball-hawking defenses of the West. A team also can't have too many ball-hawking players of their own against teams that have proved to be turnover-prone in the Western Conference Finals. Jose Alvarado provides both.

Alvarado's nickname is "Grand Theft" thanks to his propensity for steals. He has nine in the playoffs despite playing only 110 minutes. He's also shooting over 40 percent from three-point range in the postseason, putting the NYC native in position to make high-impact contributions in limited minutes. 

Jeremy Sochan, Forward

Jeremy Sochan didn't play much for the New York Knicks this season, signing with them after the San Antonio Spurs waived the former No. 9 overall pick. With the Knicks down Robinson, they may brush the cobwebs off the hyper-athletic 6-foot-8 forward to give them another option.

He fell out of the Spurs rotation this season, but Sochan has been an excellent one-on-one defender in the past, with the strength and athleticism to guard on the perimeter and in the post. Sochan is undersized for a backup center, but he may be one of the Knicks' best frontcourt options. And while he's not a great shooter, Sochan isn't hopeless on offense, even serving an apprenticeship as the team's point guard.

Timothee Chalamet, Fan

One way the Knicks have thrived this season is by their fans filling road arenas. The Cavaliers forced some Knicks superfans like Timothee Chalamet, Tracy Morgan and Ben Stiller to sit one row back from the court, but the cheers for the Knicks were louder than cheers for the home team by the second half of Game 4.

Can Chalamet and Co. penetrate Oklahoma City or San Antonio, cities that are dramatically further away than Cleveland or Philadelphia? Don't be surprised if the Knicks fans' road show keeps going throughout the Finals.