Carmelo Anthony believes the New York Knicks' championship win has not intimidated other teams. After the 2025-26 NBA season, the Knicks are now the team to beat.
What happened?
The Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat have made significant roster moves, adding Jaylen Brown and Giannis Antetokounmpo respectively, to close the gap with the Knicks.
The Knicks' championship win has led to a shift in the league, with teams looking to compete with them. Carmelo Anthony thinks teams are motivated to make moves because they feel they can be better than the Knicks.
Why it matters for Carmelo Anthony
Anthony's comments come after the Knicks' championship win, which has put a target on their backs. The Knicks are still a threat for the NBA championship, especially with their experience.
Carmelo Anthony said on 7PM in Brooklyn, "I don't think the census around the NBA is intimidated by the New York Knicks." He believes teams think they can catch up to the Knicks with the right moves.
What comes next?
The Knicks have replaced Mitchell Robinson with Andre Drummond, but they still have most of their core players. Teams might regret underestimating the Knicks, who are now more experienced and hungry for another championship.
The Eastern Conference is getting stronger, with the 76ers and Heat looking like competitive teams. The Knicks will face a tough task in defending their championship, but they are still a threat to win it all.
Carmelo Anthony's comments suggest that the Knicks' championship win has not given them an advantage in terms of intimidation. Instead, it has motivated other teams to make moves and compete with them.
The NBA offseason has seen significant moves, with teams looking to close the gap with the Knicks. The 2026-27 season is shaping up to be an exciting one, with the Knicks looking to defend their championship and other teams looking to take them down.