mentioning how much stronger the team will be with them back. The Knicks are trying to integrate them smoothly and are aiming to give them a better team than when they left.

Cameron Payne, who missed four games with an ankle sprain, is back in action. This means rookie Tyler Kolek will likely see fewer minutes. Delon Wright, who has been starting in place of Brunson, is expected to take a backseat as well, though Coach Tom Thibodeau is staying tight-lipped about his rotation plans.

Thibodeau’s recent win against Atlanta marked his 224th with the Knicks, passing Pat Riley on the franchise’s all-time wins list. He’s now only behind Red Holtzman, Joe Lapchick, and Jeff Van Gundy.

Meanwhile, Josh Hart had a bit of a meltdown after being pulled from the game with 90 seconds left, but he admitted it was all about chasing a triple-double that wasn’t meant to be. Hart acknowledged he wasn’t playing the right way, which is why he didn’t get the stats.

As for Carmelo Anthony, he’s making headlines after being named to the 2025 Naismith Hall of Fame class. Melo, who spent six and a half years with the Knicks, is one of only seven players in franchise history to reach 10,000 points. He mentioned he’d love to see his jersey retired by the team, calling it an “ecstatic” surprise if it happens.