Paolo Banchero Names Jalen Brunson’s Knicks the NBA’s Best After Title Run

Paolo Banchero has joined the chorus of voices hailing the New York Knicks as the NBA’s top team after their title run. The Orlando Magic forward, who faced New York in December’s NBA Cup semifinals, told *The Stephen A. Smith Show* on 18 June that the Knicks’ dominance felt inevitable by the playoffs.

What Banchero saw in the Knicks

Banchero didn’t just guess at New York’s potential. He broke down exactly why the Knicks stood out, starting with their balance. “I thought they were the most complete team offensively and defensively,” he said. “Offensively, they’re really hard to stop. Obviously you got Brunson who’s the head of the snake.”

The depth around Jalen Brunson also impressed Banchero. He pointed to OG Anunoby’s two-way play, Karl-Anthony Towns’ improved playoff production, and Donte DiVincenzo’s hustle as the pieces that turned New York into a juggernaut. “You got Mitchell grabbing rebounds, McBride hitting shots-just a complete team,” Banchero said.

The moment Banchero knew New York was special

Banchero’s confidence grew after the Knicks’ first-round loss to Atlanta. That setback, he argued, lit a fire under the roster. “They went on a 19-game winning streak,” he recalled. “You could just see it. They were clicking.”

By the Western Conference finals, Banchero had already locked in his pick for the East. “I was telling my homies, whoever comes out the West, I got New York,” he said. His inside view from the NBA Cup clash only reinforced that belief.

How the tape backs him up

The Knicks’ preparation paid off in June. Their December loss to San Antonio in the NBA Cup final gave them no surprises come playoff time. The first-round stumble against Atlanta? A temporary blip. From there, New York rolled through the postseason, proving Banchero’s assessment right.

Banchero’s take isn’t just hindsight. He played the Knicks twice-once in the NBA Cup semifinals and again in the regular season. His firsthand experience shaped his view of a team built to last.