The Knicks doubled-down on that connection in the offseason, trading for Mikal Brides, a perfect 3-and-D swingman who fills a role and also happened to play at Villanova with Brunson, DiVincenzo, and Hart.

New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau has seen a fair mix of success and futility throughout his career. In four years with the Knicks, however, Thibodeau has mostly experienced success, and a big part of that has to do with the players the front office has found to place around him.

In a surprising admission, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau openly talked about playing "small-ball" this season.

Injuries have hit the New York Knicks hard in recent years. Still, the Knicks were able to win 50 games last season for the first time in over a decade, as well as advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals in back-to-back seasons for the first time in over two decades.