Knicks players and coaches frustrated with KAT

[Stannis]

I think the coaches should get the blame more than the players here

Game 1

Game 1

Game 1

Game 1

[Wildcat]

I bet his teammates weren't too thrilled when he (KAT) missed his 2nd FT in the 4th and stood there in his shooting form while everyone was trying to get the ball that carried off the front of the rim and right at him.

Unseriousness bullish is what we're pissed off about.

[Pr0nzingis]

Similar to Thibs, if we move off from KAT it better be for somebody really good.

Why would any team trade anything good for a 1 way 30 year old center making $53/$57/$60 million next 3 years? Just gibberish to think otherwise. We traded a neutral value Randle who was at least expiring this Summer and a roleplayer on a sane contract in Donte for KAT. He's older, and just confirmed his problems are his.

We have 1 positive value contract, Brunson. Trade him. Tank in the 1 year we have our pick for the next half decade.

Towns is literally perfect for a team wanting to tank. His big salary means 90% of the cap could easily be achieved with him and scrubs, recipe to lose big. Tank 2 years and then have an option to trade his huge valuable expiring contract or just let it expire.

Towns is perfect for a 2\3 years quick rebuild. But yeah let's trade Brunson.


So yes Knicks should sell Towns to the Bucks. We can't keep him we have too many dumb players. When he missed the two ft's and next ofensive play received the ball i immediatly said to myself "turnover" and that's exacly what he did. He is so dumb that people can predict with 100% accuracy what he is gonna do.

oh what he did start of the game, i never seen that on a professional game, dude was on siakam and as Pacers was inbounding decided to switch and leave him wide open.

[sol537]

KAT also kept forgetting to run back on defense and gave up to a of fast break points..

You can’t win a title with KAT or Randle IMO. Not worth it.

[3toheadmelo]

I bet his teammates weren't too thrilled when he (KAT) missed his 2nd FT in the 4th and stood there in his shooting form while everyone was trying to get the ball that carried off the front of the rim and right at him.

Unseriousness bullish is what we're pissed off about.

Yea idk what KAT was doing there

[Jalen Bluntson]

Paywall? Can we verify a single quote from a player or a coach? I can't read the article

This is not the article that has really meaty quotes. It’s more of a “some dude or dudes leaked stuff to a reporter instead of addressing it” type of article. It’s kind of concerning tbh.

Oh. So...accordion sauces tell me blah blah blah. Knicks for clicks. Get back to me when something of substance pops up. Sometimes smoke leads to fire. Sometimes it's just BS.

I can't imagine what they discuss after looking at film but, it never seems like it's anything I would try to correct. Not just KAT on defense.

[KnicksGadfly]

Paywall? Can we verify a single quote from a player or a coach? I can't read the article

This is not the article that has really meaty quotes. It’s more of a “some dude or dudes leaked stuff to a reporter instead of addressing it” type of article. It’s kind of concerning tbh.

Oh. So...accordion sauces tell me blah blah blah. Knicks for clicks. Get back to me when something of substance pops up. Sometimes smoke leads to fire. Sometimes it's just BS.

I can't imagine what they discuss after looking at film but, it never seems like it's anything I would try to correct. Not just KAT on defense.

Think it’s important to check the writer when it comes to these articles. Fred Katz is pretty trustworthy and connected. He doesn’t do the negativity schtick often.

But yea, actually the article is pretty balanced as whole but of course, some stuff gets emphasized. I’ll try and copy and paste when I have time.

[RHODEY]

Watch on YouTube

[Jeff Van Gully]

This is not the article that has really meaty quotes. It’s more of a “some dude or dudes leaked stuff to a reporter instead of addressing it” type of article. It’s kind of concerning tbh.

Oh. So...accordion sauces tell me blah blah blah. Knicks for clicks. Get back to me when something of substance pops up. Sometimes smoke leads to fire. Sometimes it's just BS.

I can't imagine what they discuss after looking at film but, it never seems like it's anything I would try to correct. Not just KAT on defense.

Think it’s important to check the writer when it comes to these articles. Fred Katz is pretty trustworthy and connected. He doesn’t do the negativity schtick often.

But yea, actually the article is pretty balanced as whole but of course, some stuff gets emphasized. I’ll try and copy and paste when I have time.

1. katz was on KFS and expressed a disappointment in the timing of the release. as some have mentioned, he doesn't do hit pieces.

https://youtu.be/l_FpQlIiYwc?si=Ju2N4YluOL0AVDvh&t=131 - direct quote

Watch on YouTube

2. @KG please don't copy and paste the article. we can't do that. excerpts at most. thanks.

[HopelessKnick]

KAT is the easiest scapegoat imo. First year. Not part of the Nova clic. Actually lost one of their boys (DDV) for him.

Even if things don't improve in Year 2, he's moveable, IMHO. I'm really not worried about the "KAT issue".

On the other hand, we have no assets because everything was lost in the Bridges trade. And I think he's underperforming. We'll never get those 5 picks back. I doubt we can even get 2 picks back for him.

And if we are being honest, this series also showed the limitations of Brunson. Dude got clamped by Nembhard. There was clear frustration from him and loss of ball control which we havent seen before.

The team in general couldn't even handle a full court press

Is that KATs fault? Is the big man supposed to bring the ball up the court? I don't think he has much to do with the +15 TOs which just fed into the Pacers game

Your points are all fair, but I think you can look differently at it. The Pacers wore JB und us down with a deep bench and constant pressure----we didn't have the personel to apply the same pressure at them and wear them down as well. KAT is a big issue there. With JB and him on the court together and seems very difficult to apply high defensive pressure. I don't even fault them that much, they are just not good at it. You can work around one of them but both of them together is not destined to work.
KAT had a good playoff run and very good season. If a solid deal shows up for 2 2way players we should do it.

[nedleeds]

Didn't we just do a version of this the past 30 years?

Tank on purpose for multiple years to get shots at a franchise player? Not in my lifetime. We have had #1 the fewest times for any franchise that's been around this long. Bridges trade is such a poison pill we can neither be good, nor tank. Except next year.

We mostly think we're good, but aren't then make trades that end up being the joke of the league (Barnani, Bridges, Stephon, Melo) then supplement by signing bums to deals nobody else would sign (Og, rj, curry, amare, fournier, kemba, foolius) because we think our mediocre players are better than they are.

Back to KAT there is no great player in return for him, you're delusional if you think otherwise.

Rules have changed; a team can go zero and 82 and not get the first pick (or top 4).

Plus the 76ers did just what you suggest -

"The "Trust the Process" mantra in NBA, particularly with the Philadelphia 76ers, refers to a rebuilding strategy where a team deliberately accepts losing seasons to acquire high draft picks, aiming for long-term success. The idea, popularized by former 76ers GM Sam Hinkie, was to focus on building a team through drafting and developing talent, rather than chasing immediate championships." That worked well, didn't it?

Sure did for OKC the spurs and the cavs. But your solution is keep failing the same way? I understand how probability works, all you can do is tryvto get in position and give your franchise a shot. Hiring somebody with enough sense not to burn lottery top 3s on Jalil Okafor, Markel Futz, Bent Simmons and Nerlins Noskill is helpful also. Even if the process just produced Healthy Embiid and Maxey its better then just being the 2014 Bobcats but over the cap ... because thats what this roster is.

Kemba = Brunson
Al = KAT
Gerald and MKG = OG and Bridges

We were getting washed by Indy or a healthy Boston team regardless. There are only so many moves you can make when your non Brunson players are all over paid role players and you have literally no picks (except next year) for half a decade.

We either find a way to a top 3 pick next year or we're done for 5 years minimum.

[nedleeds]

Similar to Thibs, if we move off from KAT it better be for somebody really good.

Why would any team trade anything good for a 1 way 30 year old center making $53/$57/$60 million next 3 years? Just gibberish to think otherwise. We traded a neutral value Randle who was at least expiring this Summer and a roleplayer on a sane contract in Donte for KAT. He's older, and just confirmed his problems are his.

We have 1 positive value contract, Brunson. Trade him. Tank in the 1 year we have our pick for the next half decade.

The Knicks trade Brunson and they’ll be tanking for more than 1 year.

Next year is the only year that matters unless we can hoodwink the nets into taking Brunson for 3 of our own 1sts and 2 swaps.

[nedleeds]

The chances of Durant being traded here seem higher than Giannis tbh.

Correct. It unites 2 friends and CAA clients in Phoenix. Durant could also sign an extension here, possibly under CAA and drain Dolan formore millions.

[8516knicks]

Incredible we have a team in the ECF for the first time in over 30 years and people lust for a return to the more familiar 30-52 seasons. It's like those prisoners who commit a felony a day after being released from a 25 year sentence -- the longing for the familiar.

[Wildcat]

Oh. So...accordion sauces tell me blah blah blah. Knicks for clicks. Get back to me when something of substance pops up. Sometimes smoke leads to fire. Sometimes it's just BS.

I can't imagine what they discuss after looking at film but, it never seems like it's anything I would try to correct. Not just KAT on defense.

Think it’s important to check the writer when it comes to these articles. Fred Katz is pretty trustworthy and connected. He doesn’t do the negativity schtick often.

But yea, actually the article is pretty balanced as whole but of course, some stuff gets emphasized. I’ll try and copy and paste when I have time.

1. katz was on KFS and expressed a disappointment in the timing of the release. as some have mentioned, he doesn't do hit pieces.

https://youtu.be/l_FpQlIiYwc?si=Ju2N4YluOL0AVDvh&t=131 - direct quote

Watch on YouTube

2. @KG please don't copy and paste the article. we can't do that. excerpts at most. thanks.

People need to watch or listen. Whether you're a KAT fan or not.

[Fat Kat]

Oh. So...accordion sauces tell me blah blah blah. Knicks for clicks. Get back to me when something of substance pops up. Sometimes smoke leads to fire. Sometimes it's just BS.

I can't imagine what they discuss after looking at film but, it never seems like it's anything I would try to correct. Not just KAT on defense.

Think it’s important to check the writer when it comes to these articles. Fred Katz is pretty trustworthy and connected. He doesn’t do the negativity schtick often.

But yea, actually the article is pretty balanced as whole but of course, some stuff gets emphasized. I’ll try and copy and paste when I have time.

1. katz was on KFS and expressed a disappointment in the timing of the release. as some have mentioned, he doesn't do hit pieces.

https://youtu.be/l_FpQlIiYwc?si=Ju2N4YluOL0AVDvh&t=131 - direct quote

Watch on YouTube

2. @KG please don't copy and paste the article. we can't do that. excerpts at most. thanks.

Just listened to this. The locker room apparently gets along well. Said that there was more confrontation last year and that was a good thing. Singled out Donte as a player that would call teammates out.

IMO this team needs an agitator. A lot of Boy Scouts. PJ is too washed for his voice to resonate.

[WargamesX]

The issue in the last series was equal parts KAT and Brunson stinking it up, but KAT was disappointing through the playoffs for what the Knicks needed from him. He’s very inconsistent and doesn’t have the confidence to take games over.

Flipside let’s look at RJ Barrett’s time here as the secondary scorers (because Randle was bad at it in 22 so RJ become the secondary scorer, and then Randle was injured in 23.

RJ Barrett avg 19/4/3 and shot between 2-5 3pt shots at 33%. KAT avg 21/11/1 and shot between 1.5 - 4 3pt shot at 35%. KAT makes like double the money that RJ makes.

The main difference between RJ and KAT is that KAT stretches the floor but is that worth double the cap space? I don’t think so….

[Enzo954]

The issue in the last series was equal parts KAT and Brunson stinking it up, but KAT was disappointing through the playoffs for what the Knicks needed from him. He’s very inconsistent and doesn’t have the confidence to take games over.

"Doesn't have the confidence to take games over"? Did you not watch the game prior to last when he scored 20 points in the 4th quarter to keep us in the series? He single handedly took over that game and was unstoppable. This whole thread irks me and is filled with people who have wanted Kat off the team as soon as their boy Randle got traded for him. You guys just pump out hit piece after hit piece after hit piece on Towns yet when he played out of his mind the other night it was nothing but praises. We all know his defense sucks, but the amount of hate he's getting is over the top. Is he partially to blame? Of course, but the guy was arguably our best player throughout the playoffs and the regular season. This place is so cancerous sometimes it's unreal. Such a toxic fanbase.

[Pr0nzingis]

but the guy was arguably our best player throughout the playoffs and the regular season.

u lost me there.

[Enzo954]

but the guy was arguably our best player throughout the playoffs and the regular season.

u lost me there.

Stats don't lie my guy. I know it's enjoyable for you guys to jump on the hate bandwagon, but I speak facts whether you like it or not.

Regular Season:


2025 Playoffs Kat had the highest +/- on the Knicks from the starting 5 and 2nd highest overall on the entire team next to McBride: