Knicks earn highest preseason win total since 1994 NBA Finals team

Oddsmakers have handed the Knicks their rosiest outlook in more than three decades. 

The orange-and-blue are pegged with a preseason win total of 53.5 at FanDuel Sportsbook, which equals their highest over/under since the 1993-94 season, when the Knicks made the NBA Finals after entering the year with a 56-win total, according to Sports Odds History.

It’s just the second time this century that the Knicks have a preseason win total of 50 or more, joining the Carmelo Anthony-led 2013-14 team.

The Knicks currently trail only the Celtics (58.5) and Thunder (56.5) on the win-total odds board at FanDuel. 

Oddsmakers are a bit less bullish on the Knicks’ chances at an NBA title, giving them the fifth-best odds to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy (+900). 

They’re right in the middle of a clear group of contenders with odds at 17/1 or better to win the 2024-25 title, alongside the Celtics, Thunder, Nuggets, 76ers, Timberwolves, Mavericks and Bucks. 

In the East, the Knicks (+470) trail the reigning champion Celtics (+140) and 76ers (+420) in terms of their chances to come out of the conference. 

The Knicks are coming off their first 50-win season since 2012-13 and just their third since 2000, making the playoffs for the third time in the last four seasons. 

The recent success helped head coach Tom Thibodeau earn a three-year extension, keeping him in New York through the 2027-28 season. 

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Expectations are even higher heading into the 2024-25 season after trading for Mikal Bridges, reuniting the forward with former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo at Madison Square Garden. 

The Knicks brought in Bridges without losing any key parts of their rotation aside from center Isaiah Hartenstein, who signed with the Thunder.