NBA Season 2025-26

[Who]

Christian Braun is shooting 21.4% 3PT over his first 6 games. Not a big deal. A bad shooting stretch. But he is attempting only 2.3 three point attemtps per game. Still a reluctant three point shooter. He averaged 2.8 attempts last year. I was hoping to see him increase his volume this season.

Something to watch moving forward.

[Donoghus]

Well, that's awful news.

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
7m
Utah's Walker Kessler is undergoing season-ending left shoulder surgery for a torn labrum, sources tell ESPN.

[Birdman]

Well, that's awful news.

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
7m
Utah's Walker Kessler is undergoing season-ending left shoulder surgery for a torn labrum, sources tell ESPN.

Wow awful news for him & Utah, he was starting to play great

[Who]

On an individual level, nobody controlled the ball more than Jalen Brunson last season.

According to GeniusIQ tracking, he led the league with 524 dribbles per game, 8.8 minutes of possession per game and 6.1 seconds per touch. But this season, Brunson's possession numbers have declined across the board; those figures have fallen to 431 dribbles, 7.7 minutes and 4.8 seconds, respectively.

A related change is a dramatic decline in Brunson's pick-and-roll frequency. According to GeniusIQ, he was the ball-handler for 55 picks per 100 possessions last season, second-most in the NBA behind Trae Young. But he's only in 12th place among high-volume ball handlers this season, with 43 picks per 100 possessions, as Brown tries to democratize the offensive load.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/46849579/new-look-knicks-early-season-intel-towns-brunson-numbers-next

The most notable stylistic change for the Knicks is their shot distribution, as they've embraced the 3-pointer more than they ever did under Thibodeau.

New York ranked 28th in 3-point attempt rate last season, but in 2025-26, they have the fifth-highest 3-point attempt rate, with 48% of their shots coming from beyond the arc. Only the Cavaliers, Celtics, Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns -- who all ranked among the most 3-happy teams last season -- have taken more 3s as a percentage of their total attempts than New York.

Interestingly, other than centers Robinson and Ariel Hukporti, the two lowest 3-point attempt rates on the team belong to Towns (35% of his shots) and Brunson (37%), which means the Knicks' role players are all primarily spacing the floor around the stars.

NYK also ranks worst in the league for allowing the most three point attempts to an opponent (46%) and 2nd worst for best three point percentage by an opponent (39.6%).

They are allowing the same number of rim / paint attempts. The main difference is midrange 2s last year are 3s this year.

One of the most obvious stylistic signifiers of the Sacramento Kings' offense under Brown was the handoff, and the Knicks have followed suit under their new coach. They ranked 14th with 23 handoffs per 100 possessions last season, per GeniusIQ, but they've zoomed into first place with 43 handoffs per 100 this season.

Towns and Brunson have more than doubled their handoff rates versus last season. Mikal Bridges has nearly quadrupled his handoff rate. New reserve big Guerschon Yabusele has gotten in on the act, and Robinson is setting a career high in handoff frequency through two games.

As part of their greater emphasis on sharing, the Knicks have jumped from 18th in passes per game last season to fifth in 2025-26.

The article finished by saying the Knicks have had the worst shooting luck in the league. Both (1) themselves underperforming (2) opponents overperforming. Based on shot quality and shooter identity. So they should do better once that "luck" evens out.