In a league where talent alone doesn’t win banners, locker room chemistry can be the silent MVP. The New York Knicks are navigating that very minefield as Jalen Brunson’s relationship with teammates, especially Karl-Anthony Towns, raises questions about cohesion under new head coach Mike Brown, and the stakes might just be higher than we all think.

Vincent Goodwill, as what can only be called bluntly, framed those stakes, saying, “If the Knicks don’t get a top three seed in the Eastern Conference, why do they not get a top three seed in a depleted a– rat a– Eastern conference?” This isn’t just about wins and losses anymore. It’s rather about whether the Knicks can convert momentum into stability. And if they can’t? The finger-pointing has already begun.

Marcus Thompson, to his credit, weighed in on the intricacies. “Because if that happens, it’s because Mike Brown could not stop the erosion of chemistry in that locker room… it finally catches up to them… the like turmoil that’s so visible on the court with KAT and Brunson and all them, it catches up to them.” The Knicks bet big on bringing Karl-Anthony Towns into the mix. But so far, that marriage looks more arranged than natural. Many suggest that Brunson is an undersized guard, while Towns continues to have difficulties with his defensive schemes.

The contrast in coaching philosophies only adds fuel as both Goodwill and Thompson agreed that while Tom Thibodeau’s hands-off approach works in certain contexts, Brown’s specialty lies in getting deep into team dynamics, turning turbulence into triumph. Thibs is believed to be hands-off with the “people stuff,” as Goodwill explained. Thompson countered.

“Yeah. And Mike Brown is not like Mike Brown’s going to get in there like that’s kind of his specialty.” That difference could define the season. Brown thrives in managing personalities and smoothing rough edges. But can he do it with a veteran-heavy roster that isn’t exactly begging for intervention? Brunson believes it to be fun and exciting.

Goodwill pushed the thought further: “Turning good teams into great ones.” Thompson agreed but offered caution. Why? Because there are veteran players that Mike has to work with. And if Mike cannot do it, you know, putting his foot down on decisions like who is taking the shots, “that could hurt them.” The key?

Finding offensive cooperation between Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. If they figure it out, the Knicks could soar. If not… the ceiling could feel a lot closer than fans expected. And that’s where Thibodeau missed his shot. The Knicks, in their official statement after Thibs’ firing, stated that “Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans,” which, unfortunately, Thibodeau could not deliver. But again, at the center of it all is now Brunson.

Can Mike Brown find the Brunson-Towns balance?

His rise from being drafted 33rd overall has turned him into the face of the New York Knicks’ culture shift. But with Towns in town, the hierarchy isn’t as clear. Remember when KAT missed the Knicks’ “family dinner“? Who takes the big shots? Who carries the late-game load? Thompson summed it up: “There just has to be some like a better harmony offensively between Brunson and KAT. Like they’ve got to… those are the two big dogs.” The numbers don’t lie, either.

Brunson averaged 26.0 points and 7.3 assists per game in 2024-25, carrying the Knicks through stretches when injuries and inconsistency could have sunk them. Towns brings spacing, size, and a scoring punch, but his history of fit questions in Minnesota doesn’t vanish in New York. Chemistry isn’t theoretical here. It’s visible in who sets screens, who rotates defensively, and who claps when the other scores.

Towns’ opinion of the dynamics, though? “We have a chance to win a championship, and it’s only gonna really happen if everyone’s connected and everyone has to be fully invested into each other and to our goals.” For Mike Brown, that’s the challenge. He’s not inheriting a rebuilding roster where his voice dominates.

He’s stepping into a room with stars who have already tasted success and veterans who have survived the grind. The Knicks have overcome turbulence before, but Thompson’s warning stays put: “They overcame it last year, right? In a way that not even Knicks people thought they would. But they’ve got to get that part in order.” 

Training camp will be the first test. Every possession, every interaction, every sideline huddle will be dissected. For Jalen Brunson, it’s not just about proving he’s the Knicks’ best player, though many would argue that he is. It’s about proving he can coexist and lead when the spotlight burns hottest. Because if he can’t? That silence in Madison Square Garden will only grow louder.