Knicks Limp Into Regular Season After Preseason Finale
The New York Knicks capped off their preseason schedule with a 115-105 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night, but the bigger story may be the rash of injuries that have hit the team heading into the regular season.
All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns sat out the game with a quad injury, joining wing OG Anunoby (ankle), forward Josh Hart (back), and center Mitchell Robinson (load management) on the sidelines. Head coach Mike Brown had hoped to use the final preseason contest as a dress rehearsal, but was forced to rest his key rotation players.
Roster Shuffling Before Opening Night
In addition to the injury concerns, the Knicks have been busy making roster moves in the lead-up to the regular season. The team signed several players to Exhibit 10 contracts, including guards Donovan Williams and Isaiah Roby, with the intention of assigning them to the Westchester Knicks G League affiliate.
This comes on the heels of the surprising release of veteran point guard Malcolm Brogdon, who announced his retirement just before the start of the season. The Knicks acted quickly to shore up their backcourt depth, bringing in Landry Shamet on a free agent deal.
TL;DR
- The Knicks ended the preseason with a loss to the Hornets, but the bigger concern is a rash of injuries to key players like Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby.
- New York has been active on the roster front, signing several players to Exhibit 10 deals for their G League team after the unexpected retirement of Malcolm Brogdon.
- The Knicks will be looking to get healthy and solidify their rotation as they prepare to open the 2025-26 regular season next week.