"It's about time they unleash the potential of the team" - Andrea Bargnani admits he is happy with the Knicks' resurgence originally appeared on Basketball Network .
The New York Knicks ' run in the 2024-25 season drew varying opinions, with some believing flaws remain. However, in the eyes of former Knick Andrea Bargnani , the team is on the right track. The Italian national sees it as progress compared to the franchise's previous runs.
In an exclusive talk with "Sports Bytes Philippines", the top pick of the 2006 Draft admitted that the only person he was familiar with in the Knicks organization was Leon Rose, the current team president. Bargnani feels that Rose has been doing a good job, adding that the team's success is long overdue.
"I'm very happy for the Knicks because I played there and because Leon is the guy there now," Andrea said . " The team is very good. I think it's about time that they unleash the potential of the team. Because for many years, if you take every player, seeing every player, the team has been very good for many years, but it was never able to perform at a high level and be a winning team. So now it is, and I am very happy for them."
Acquired by the Knicks in 2013 via trade, Bargnani's time in New York was hardly memorable. He joined a team that barely made it above .500 and never experienced getting to the playoffs with New York.
Worse, injuries kept Andrea from playing regularly with the team. He suffered calf, elbow and hamstring injuries during his time there, a reason why he played in only 71 regular-season games. Bargnani averaged 13.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.1 blocks per night in his two-year stay there.
Given his style of play and sans the injuries, the 7-foot Italian would be another player who would benefit in today's game . Former NBA enforcer David West pointed out how Bargnani would get away with his lackluster defense and score a bunch of points because of the way game officials call the game nowadays.
"The only reason Bargnani didn't have a (successful) career was 'cause the referees let people like me beat him up!" West reasoned .
West made a valid point, and Bargnani's career could have been much better in today's game. He was a 43.8% shooter from the field and 35.4% from deep. A prime version of the Italian big man could have even lifted the current Knicks squad, easing the burden off Jalen Brunson 's shoulders.
Brunson was doing many things: playmaking, distributing the ball and pouring in the points. Undoubtedly, the heart of the Knicks' game was that it was only a matter of time before opposing teams figured that wearing out Jalen would make New York vulnerable.
The Knicks added Jordan Clarkson in the offseason, a tested veteran who could help ease Brunson's burden. But aside from JC, the team needs to have a better showing from its holdover guards.
Miles McBride , Cameron Payne and Delon Wright are the other options from last season's roster. Hence, it will all be up to the new head coach, Mike Brown. He is likely aware that Brunson cannot do it alone, which is enough reason for Brown to find another guard who can step up at the point.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
