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New York Knicks: 3 biggest disappointments from the 2018-19 season

By Daniel Lubofsky

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 22: Kevin Knox #20 and Lance Thomas #42 lift teammate Frank Ntilikina #11 of the New York Knicks off the ground during the second half of the game against the Denver Nuggets at Madison Square Garden on March 22, 2019 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 22: Kevin Knox #20 and Lance Thomas #42 lift teammate Frank Ntilikina #11 of the New York Knicks off the ground during the second half of the game against the Denver Nuggets at Madison Square Garden on March 22, 2019 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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New York Knicks
(Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images) /

There was plenty to be upset over in a New York Knicks campaign that tied the franchise record for losses in a single season.

The New York Knicks came into the 2018-19 season with little expectations in terms of potential wins. Their roster was the youngest in the league and their best player would be shelved until February at the earliest rehabbing from a torn ACL.

Knicks fans were on board with the impending long and arduous rebuild, prompted by recent lottery picks like Frank Ntilikina and Kevin Knox as well as hidden gems such as Allonzo Trier and Mitchell Robinson. The results wouldn’t be pretty, but they would hopefully lay the foundation for a bright future in the Big Apple.

There were encouraging moments for the Knicks this season, highlighted by Robinson’s mesmerizing length and athleticism at both ends. Even with the bar set so low, however, both the team and its players still managed to disappoint in certain areas, completely independent of their league-worst record of just 17-65.

Ntilikina failed to improve in any tangible way in his second year as a pro in part due to both injuries and inconsistent minutes. While his inaugural taste of NBA basketball was sprinkled with terrific performances, Knox spent most of his rookie season overwhelmed as an inconsistent 19-year-old. Then, of course, there was the infamous deadline trade sending All-Star Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks.

The 2018-19 season was always going to be a lost one for the Knicks. Given the circumstances, the plan was to focus more on development rather than clawing for that eighth and final playoff spot. (Not that they could’ve gotten it anyway)

Even so, fans still went into the year hoping to see more development from the youngsters and definitely weren’t expecting a trade of such immense magnitude. Due to that fact, New York’s faithful became all the more disappointed, quite the accomplishment by a team during one of its worst seasons in franchise history.

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