The New York Knicks reached their first NBA Finals in 27 years after losing only two games by a single point and winning 11 straight through the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Heading into the Finals against the Western Conference champions, several under-the-radar players could prove decisive for New York’s chances of winning a championship.
Landry Shamet posted an 11-for-12 three-point shooting effort against the Cavaliers, though it is unrealistic to expect him to consistently replicate that kind of output throughout the Finals.
His 10-for-23 mark from three-point range in the first two rounds, good for 43.5 percent, represents a more realistic and still highly valuable level of production for the Knicks.
A reliable outside shooter like Shamet is crucial against elite defenses, as his ability to punish double-teams makes New York’s ball-moving offense significantly harder to contain.
Center Ariel Hukporti, 24, has appeared in only eight playoff games and logged just 70 total minutes this postseason, but Mitchell Robinson’s broken right pinky finger could change that dramatically.
Hukporti was selected with the last pick of the second round in the 2024 NBA Draft and appeared in 54 regular season games, contributing solid defense while his offense is largely limited to putbacks and lobs.
The Knicks will need someone to counter the Western Conference champions’ big men while Karl-Anthony Towns rests or deals with foul trouble, placing significant responsibility on Hukporti’s shoulders.
Guard Jose Alvarado, nicknamed “Grand Theft” for his propensity for steals, has recorded nine steals in the playoffs despite playing only 110 minutes, making him a genuine defensive weapon.
Alvarado is also shooting over 40 percent from three-point range in the postseason, putting the New York City native in position to make high-impact contributions in limited minutes against the Western Conference champions.
Forward Jeremy Sochan did not play much for the Knicks this season after signing with them following the San Antonio Spurs waiving the former No. 9 overall pick, but Robinson’s injury may change his role.
Sochan has been an excellent one-on-one defender in the past, with the strength and athleticism to guard on both the perimeter and in the post despite being undersized as a backup center option.
While Sochan is not a great shooter, he has shown offensive versatility in the past, including serving an apprenticeship at point guard during his time with the Spurs.
The Knicks also benefit from a passionate fanbase that has been filling opposing arenas on the road, with celebrity supporters like Timothee Chalamet, Tracy Morgan, and Ben Stiller following the team closely.
The Cavaliers forced those superfans to sit one row back from the court, but by the second half of Game 4 the cheers for the Knicks were reportedly louder than those for the home team.
