New York Knicks

The rise of sports betting culture has changed the way fans consume games, and players are oftentimes subjected to unwarranted messages from those who overstep their bounds.

New York Knicks stars Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart were among the players to describe their experiences to The Athletic's James L. Edwards III, revealing that some fans have reached new levels of disrespect by going as far as posting death threats and racial slurs or wishing injuries upon them.

"Genuinely threatened?" Brunson pondered after being asked by Edwards if he's ever felt that way. "I’ve never felt genuinely threatened, but there has been some really disrespectful s--t said. It’s a lot of people who don’t have profile pictures. There is part of me that has thought about airing them out, but s--t always comes back around."

"I get everything," Hart added. "People say, ‘I hope you die.’ They wish injury. Racial stuff."

Unfortunately, the growing sportsbooks across the country combined with the instant access of social media created a new atmosphere in sports where fans are more concerned with their wagers than the actual games. Sports betting isn't going anywhere anytime soon, so players have gotten used to the reactions they receive nowadays.

"It’s funny that people are out there looking for that instead of just watching the game. It’s just funny to me," Knicks guard Cam Payne said. "We don’t ask you to bet your money."

After suffering a foot injury last Saturday in the New York Knicks' 128-112 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, OG Anunoby is targeting a return sometime after the All-Star break, Shams Charania said on NBA Countdown.

Before his exit, Anunoby posted 13 points in 17 minutes. The Knicks have won both of their games since then, defeating the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors last week.

Anunoby received a pass and was about to shoot before falling to one knee and grabbing his foot in pain with a non-contact injury.

"You deal with the reality of it," Thibodeau told reporters after the game. "It's good that it's a mild sprain. Just work your way through the treatment and get ready to go. … Next guy get in there and get the job done."

He had played in all 49 games this season ahead of his injury, averaging a career high 36.4 minutes per game with 16.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists.

In addition, the Knicks are expecting center Mitchell Robinson to make his season debut after having offseason foot surgery.

"He is expected to start 5-on-5 play here very soon. Im told he and the Knicks have goal of before March 1 for potentially his season debut," Charania said.

Robinson played in 31 games last season, posting a career-low 5.6 points per game, along with 8.5 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 1.2 steals.

The New York Knicks were 34-17 heading into their Eastern Conference matchup against the Boston Celtics on Saturday night.

The New York Knicks are reportedly expected to part ways with their backup center ahead of this year's NBA trade deadline.

Per ESPN's Tim Bontemps, the Knicks are expected to trade Jericho Sims before Thursday afternoon's deadline. Bontemps noted that a handful of teams "have expressed interest in acquiring" the 26-year-old, who is on an expiring $2 million deal.

Sims, a former second-round pick by New York in 2021, is putting up just 1.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game this year, playing 10.8 minutes per contest off the bench. With Karl-Anthony Towns holding down the starting role and Precious Achiuwa being his primary backup, Sims currently splits minutes with Ariel Hukporti.

New York will eventually have another big man back in the rotation in Mitchell Robinson, who hasn't played this season due to a foot injury. SNY's Ian Begley reported earlier this week that Mitchell was cleared for contact in practice and is now allowed to play 5-on-5 scrimmage.

With a crowded center rotation, moving on from Sims before the deadline could give the Knicks some much-needed financial flexibility. They're currently just $535,301 below the second apron, per Spotrac.

According to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto, the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks are interested in trading for Sims.

The Lakers have a major need for a center after dealing Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Dončić. Considering Los Angeles' lack of big men, Sims could go from a reserve role in New York to seeing significant playing time for the Lakers.

He might not get the same kind of minutes with the Clippers or Bucks as those two squads are better equipped in the frontcourt, but he would still likely have a bigger role than that which he plays in New York.

The Knicks are in a good place heading into the second half of the season, so any trades made at the deadline likely won't be of major significance. After winning seven of its last eight games, New York is currently in third place in the East at 34-17 and looks primed for a deep playoff run.

The New York Knicks are currently third in the Eastern Conference and a legitimate contender to win the Larry O'Brien Trophy this season. They also have the luxury of having an abundance of quality centers on their roster, including Karl Anthony Towns, a potentially returning Mitchell Robinson, Precious Achiuwa, and Ariel Hukporti.

Jericho Sims is another and Hoops Hype's Michael Scotto reported the 26-year-old is garnering interest around the league as the trade deadline approaches. Teams reportedly interested include the Lakers, Clippers, and Bucks.

Sims has seen just over 10 minutes of court time on average this year, thanks to the logjam at the position. Still, he has accounted for 3.3 rebounds per game and is shooting 60.9 percent from the floor.

The big man's raw athleticism is his greatest tool but he also possesses quality rim protection, something both the Lakers and Clippers could use as they fight through a stacked Western Conference.

Not only is Sims young, with a potentially high upside, should he have the opportunity to play more, but he is on an expiring $2 million contract, which means he would presumably be an affordable pickup for any of the teams looking to add him to their rosters.

He could likely be had for draft assets in the case of the Clippers and Bucks, while the Lakers would have the ability to package a player, probably Gave Vincent or Rui Hachimura, in any offer they make.

Whatever the case, trading Sims would allow the team to acquire some draft capital that makes preparing for the future while riding high in the present a real possibility. That is an enviable position, one that their biggest Eastern Conference rivals, the Boston Celtics, would love to find themselves in.

Using one young player with untapped potential to facilitate a draft pick or two is smart business by a front office that has gotten everything right over the last year and the type of championship move that has not always been associated with the long-suffering Knicks organization.

If the team can get a deal done, either for Sims or even Mitchell Robinson, who the Lakers reportedly have on their radar as well, it will be a significant off-the-court victory to go along with all that they have accomplished on it here in this 2024-25 season.

For the second night in a row, the New York Knicks pulled out a gritty, close win.

This time, the Knicks beat the Toronto Raptors 121-115—just 24 hours after downing the Houston Rockets 124-118 in a matchup that came down to the final minute.

Star point guard Jalen Brunson had another tremendous effort, posting 28 points and five assists. Just as he did against the Rockets on Monday, Brunson had a handful of shots in the clutch, including a dagger to put New York up six.

The big night from Brunson comes on the heels of his 42-point effort against Houston.

Brunson wasn't the only Knick with a big night, as New York's newest star Karl-Anthony Towns, also came to play. The big man had 27 points and 20 rebounds, marking his fourth 20-point, 20-rebound game this season.

After the clutch performance from Brunson and the impressive stat line from Towns, fans praised the Knicks stars on social media.

The Knicks have been on a tear in recent weeks, winning seven of their last eight games to improve to 33-17 on the year. New York will get to establish itself as one of the best teams in the East this weekend when it takes on the defending champion Boston Celtics.

The Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks all have interest in New York Knicks center Jericho Sims as Thursday's trade deadline quickly approaches.

Michael A. Scotto of HoopsHype reported the latest:

"New York Knicks center Jericho Sims has drawn interest on the trade market from teams, including the Lakers, Clippers, and Bucks, league sources told HoopsHype.

"The 26-year-old center and former Slam Dunk Contest participant is on an expiring $2 million contract.

"The Knicks have a frontcourt logjam in All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns, the expected return of Mitchell Robinson should he remain in New York past the deadline, Precious Achiuwa, Sims, and Ariel Hukporti while only $535,301 below the second apron."

Sims has played 38 games, starting five. He's averaged 1.7 points and 3.4 rebounds in 11.1 minutes per contest.

The 6'10", 245-pound center played all four of his seasons with New York, which selected the former Texas big man with the 58th overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft.

As Scotto noted, it's clear why the Knicks could be looking to trade Sims.

As for his potential suitors, the Lakers need more size down low after trading Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in a monumental deal that notably brought Luka Dončić to L.A.

The Clippers may have less incentive to acquire a big after adding backup center Drew Eubanks from the Utah Jazz via trade on Feb. 1, but another center couldn't hurt for depth purposes.

As for the Bucks, they need more help, especially at the 5. It's become apparent recently with versatile big man Bobby Portis attending to a personal matter that's led to him missing six games.

Sims isn't a scorer, but he's a good defender and rebounder who's easily capable of providing minutes for any team. And with the Knicks having a glut of big men and other teams needing some help, he could well be sent to a team that could use his services more at this point.

The Los Angeles Lakers stunned the basketball world with their trade for Luka Dončić Saturday night and according to Yahoo's Kevin O'Connor, the team is not finished with making deals yet.

The host of the Kevin O'Connor Show reported that the team is still focused on finding a big man and that the New York Knicks' Mitchell Robinson is on their radar.

If so, the Knicks must move Robinson before the trade deadline.

The talented center has been the subject of trade talk before, and his history of lower-body injuries over the last three seasons has limited his availability to the team. He has yet to play a single minute for New York this season, but head coach Tom Thibodeau revealed he is cleared for contact practice, a significant step on his way back to the court.

Despite the general excitement surrounding the Knicks and their opportunity to see their vision from this past offseason fully realized with Robinson's return to the lineup, now is also the best time to make a deal with the Lakers.

Los Angeles proved their desperation to make a splash with both the secrecy of the Dončić trade and their willingness to send Anthony Davis to Dallas as part of it. It is a team that knows there are lofty expectations and wants desperately to realize them while they still have LeBron James in the building.

With Davis gone and a serious lack of depth at the center position, the team will likely be more willing to give up assets to acquire a player they believe can be a difference-maker at the five. If Robinson is on their radar and they want to acquire the 26-year-old to pair with Dončić and James, the Knicks should get everything they can in return for him.

The Lakers still have an unprotected 2031 first-rounder, a protected 2027 first, swap rights on their 2026, 2028, and 2030 first-round picks, and a pair of second-round picks in 2025 (theirs and the Clippers').

If the Knicks want more depth out of the deal than draft picks, it could receive Jaxson Hayes to replace the big man and possibly add Rui Hachimura or Gabe Vincent as additional depth on a roster already one of the most impressive in the league.

Robinson has a career average of 24 minutes and eight points, shoots 70.1 from the floor, and tallies 7.9 rebounds per game. He is elite at the rim and would provide the Lakers exactly what they are looking for from that position. Whether he can stay healthy is the question and one the Knicks should not worry about answering anymore.

Robinson is on the Lakers' radar and even if the team had not previously considered dealing him, they should, especially knowing how determined Los Angeles has been to fill that hole on their roster. That he is still young gives the Knicks relative leverage in adding to the return and further filling out a roster that could lead them to their first Eastern Conference title in a quarter-century

Another electric performance from Jalen Brunson led the New York Knicks to a 124-118 win over the Houston Rockets on Monday.

Brunson had 42 points, 10 assists and six rebounds in the win, putting together a clutch fourth quarter in which he dropped 17 points to help New York mount a double-digit comeback. He had a handful of crucial buckets late in the game, including a three-pointer that gave the Knicks a four-point cushion with just a minute to play.

After the Rockets cut the lead to two points with just under 40 seconds left, Brunson forced a turnover that ultimately helped seal the win as New York iced the game at the free-throw line.

While Brunson was the main storyline in the win, his supporting cast put together a good game as well. Mikal Bridges dropped 22 points, Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 as well and Josh Hart finished with 19 points.

On the Rockets' side, second-year forward Amen Thompson continued to prove himself with a big game against one of the best teams in the league. Thompson had 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in the loss.

After pulling off the gutsy win, fans had high praise for another clutch performance from Brunson.

The Knicks are getting hot at the right time, as they've now won six of their last seven games as the All-Star break nears. They're currently in third place in the Eastern Conference at 33-17 but are closing in on the struggling Boston Celtics in second place.