NBA legend Magic Johnson believes the New York Knicks are a free-agent destination superstars will seriously consider.
For the past decade, there aren’t too many positive memories about the New York Knicks. They were stuck at the bottom of the NBA, embody everything a franchise shouldn’t be. Because of their history of failure, many didn’t know what to expect of a team that had Julius Randle, R.J. Barrett and company under a new head coach Tom Thibodeau this season.
It’s fair to say that they exceeded expectations.
New York put the NBA on notice this year, finishing with a 41-31 record and the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. They are not the laughing stock they were the past several seasons, and one NBA legend believes the change in identity could pay off when free agency rolls around.
Magic Johnson says NBA superstars will want to play for the Knicks.
The Knicks surprised everyone this season with how well they played. Julius Randle took the next step in his career, becoming an NBA star and All-NBA selection. R.J. Barrett also improved his game on both ends of the floor. But, perhaps the biggest improvement was from a cultural standpoint. New York’s new identity is a hard-nosed team that plays defense and can hit three-pointers at an impressive clip.
NBA legend Magic Johnson is known for his excellence as a point guard, but he also has his finger on the pulse of the NBA and its players. After what he saw this season from the New York, he believes superstars will be open to playing at Madison Square Garden for this new-look Knicks organization.
“Superstars are going to want to play here [New York] now. I think because they [Knicks], made that run, got to the playoffs. The city is alive about the Knicks,” Johnson said to KJZ on ESPN.
When the Knicks are competitive, it’s good for the sport of basketball, and it makes them a prime destination for free agents. If Magic’s prediction comes to fruition, New York could have a very active offseason. With the team projected to have over $50 million in cap space this offseason, they could finally get the elusive star to come to the Big Apple.