Knicks Bulletin: ‘That’s really the beauty of the NBA’

The Knicks spent the day traveling from Phoenix to Utah on Thursday as they gear up to face the Jazz in Salt Lake City tomorrow.

After beating the Suns in the desert, New York enter the weekend boasting a four-game winning streak and trying to string five wins for the first time since the very end of the 2024 regular season and into the playoffs.

Here’s the latest we’ve heard from Coach Thibs, a few Knickerbockers, and one particular Arizonian.

Tom Thibodeau

On Cam Payne’s resilience and growth throughout his career:

“Really, it doesn’t matter who you are or whether you’re a rookie, five-year player, 10-year player, whether you’ve been an All-Star—every year you have to prove yourself. Every game you’ve got to prove yourself.

“That’s really the beauty of the NBA. If you love competition that’s what makes it so great. We have a bunch of competitors.

“All the things that Cam has been through has helped him and he’s responded. Whatever adversity has come his way he’s always found a way to get above it. Now he’s established himself as a really good player in this league. So he’s brought a lot to our team.”

Cam Payne

On having to prove himself with the Knicks:

“I kind of had to start over again, make people like me, show them what I can do. For sure I had to start over and I’m kind of doing it again. Kind of go out there playing so everybody knows what I do, what I bring to the table.

“I’m starting to turn some heads a little bit. Hopefully, I can get some love there in New York.”

On his expectations once he signed with the Knicks:

“Honestly, I didn’t know. Honestly, I just wanted to come and help.

“When I get out there I want to be aggressive and just utilize my opportunities. Obviously, I have. I’m in there. I didn’t know though coming in.

“I just wanted to be the best player I could be every day.”

Jalen Brunson

On Payne’s impact on the Knicks locker room:

“He brings energy, regardless of what’s going on on the court. He may play a lot. He may not play a lot. But his energy is always there and he’s a great teammate to have around.

“I hate to play against him. But honestly having him as a teammate, he’s been amazing.”

Josh Hart

On the team’s improving chemistry and rhythm:

“Offensively, we’re getting into a really good rhythm. And now defensively, we have to make sure that we continue to improve.

“If we make that jump, we’ll be a force.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On what New York has improved at the most of late:

“Defense, I think it’s obvious. I think we did a great job (on Wednesday). We made [Phoenix] take tough shots. They’re a great team with great talent so if they make some tough shots, obviously, we’ve got to give it to them.

“But I think, every day, we’re just building on that consistency.”

On building chemistry and improving as a team:

“There’s a certain standard for being a great team. Every day, right now, we’re getting closer and closer to that standard. I think any great team is about consistency. It’s not about having that standard one game, it’s about every single day coming to work and having that kind of standard and building on those standards.”

Mike Budenholzer (Phoenix Suns Head Coach)

On the Suns’ defensive struggles against the Knicks:

“Credit to those guys, but I thought our transition defense at times was not where you need it to be good defensively.

“If you’re going to withstand a good shooting night, you’ve got to take away the easy ones in transition. You gotta be great there. I think we had some lapses in transition where we gotta be better.”

On adjusting the Suns’ lineup going small to try and counter Towns:

“KAT is a unique big. He spaces and spreads the court.

“[The Knicks] really kind of playing four wings around him with Josh Hart kind of being like the other big. (OG) Anunoby’s another wing that plays like a big. So we went with Royce over the two-big look. I thought that would give us our best chance.”

Bobby Marks (NBA Analyst)

On the Knicks having one of the strongest starting-five units across the NBA:

“I said this back in September after they made the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, I thought the Knicks starting five was the best starting five in the NBA.

“I think what you saw last night (at Phoenix) was kind of the recipe of how good this starting five can be.”

“How can they sustain if one of these players goes down with an injury? But last night certainly I think they can justify as one, or the best, starting five in the NBA.”