The New York Knicks ended a 53-year title drought in June, and the pre-season odds already have two other teams ahead of them. Josh Hart, addressing that gap on ESPN’s US Open broadcast, said the dressing room is treating it as fuel rather than an insult.

“I don’t think we have a big target, because I don’t think anyone is picking us to win again. We’re using it as fuel. We’re still the hunters. We’re not satisfied with one. So we’re the hunters, and we like playing that game.”

Hart made the comments alongside play-by-play announcer Chris Fowler and analyst John McEnroe during Alexander Zverev’s quarterfinal at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday, 9 September.

Champions, but not the offseason story

New York beat the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the Finals in June, with Jalen Brunson taking the Bill Russell trophy as Finals MVP after a franchise-record 45-point Game 5. It was the third championship in Knicks history and their first since 1973.

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The offseason belonged to somebody else. The Philadelphia 76ers, who host New York on opening night, signed LeBron James and traded for Boston forward Jaylen Brown. In the futures market, the Spurs and Thunder sit as the favorites to win the 2026-27 title, with the Knicks and 76ers tied for third at 10-1.

Asked earlier in the summer whether it is New York or Philadelphia that should be seen as the Eastern Conference team to beat, Hart offered a shorter answer.

“I don’t really know. I don’t really care, either.”

Same five, same coach

Mike Brown, hired last summer to replace Tom Thibodeau, pushed the group through a 16-3 playoff run that included a 14-1 stretch to close out the title. The Knicks trailed for long stretches of the Finals series and rallied to win four of the five games, and the underdog framing that carried them there is one they want to keep.

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The starting five is back intact: Brunson, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Karl-Anthony Towns and Hart. Mitchell Robinson moved to Boston during the summer, with Andre Drummond arriving as the frontcourt cover.

The 2026-27 season tips off on 20 October at Philadelphia.

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