"Kevin Durant will be a guy who will give you some help" - Magic believes KD could be the answer to the Knicks' woes
"Kevin Durant will be a guy who will give you some help" - Magic believes KD could be the answer to the Knicks' woes originally appeared on Basketball Network.
New York basketball experienced an incredible resurgence this year after the NY Knicks made a memorable run to the Eastern Conference Finals before falling to the Indiana Pacers. Despite the loss, the City That Never Sleeps was rumbling again, with celebrities and fans packing Madison Square Garden to watch their beloved team play.
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However, whatever momentum the team gained this postseason has abruptly stopped with the front office's decision to fire head coach Tom Thibodeau. With the Knicks facing an uncertain future as their attempts to secure interviews with potential candidates have been rejected, the team appears to be in a state of chaos.
However, amidst all this uncertainty and turmoil, there is one player who could potentially bring stability and hope to the franchise: Kevin Durant. According to Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson, the future first-ballot Hall of Famer could be the player the Knicks need to bring them to the next level.
A team in need of another superstar
While New York has two bona fide studs, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, playing alongside OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges, the combination wasn't enough to take them to the league's biggest stage. Magic said adding KD to the mix could give the Knicks a quintet sufficient to compete for the Larry O'Brien trophy.
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"The Knicks are too slow. They're not going to beat Indiana next year or these other teams. They've got to get a little faster. And to me, Kevin Durant will allow them to get faster and be a guy that can help Brunson in the fourth quarter," the Hall of Famer said on Get Up.
With Brunson, the Knicks have one of the most lethal crunchtime performers the league has seen. However, the team's overreliance on him eventually wore him down, limiting his effectiveness in the later stages of games. Adding a player like Durant, who is known for his clutch performances and ability to take over games in crucial moments, could alleviate some of that pressure off Jalen.
"You're relying on Brunson so much. One guy can't get you there. You've got to give him some help. Kevin Durant would be a guy who will give you some help on the offensive end. Plus, he's able to put the teams that they play against in foul trouble," Buck added. "I like Kevin Durant playing with the Knicks. I really do. A champion — he can teach the other guys how to win the championship. That would be important."
Although Durant is already 36, he remains one of the most potent scorers in the league, averaging 26.6 points on 52 percent shooting this season. But with the Phoenix Suns looking to change things up after missing the playoffs this year, Kevin's future with the Suns is in limbo.
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Related: "Yeah, they'll probably have to do something" - Bird says the NBA will be forced to move the 3-point line back if high volume continues
Coaching situation
Another issue the Knicks have to resolve is their lack of a head coach. Another Hall of Famer, Charles Barkley, recently went on air to rant about the team's lack of a succession plan, sentiments with which Magic agreed.
"You have to have a plan. If you're going to fire the man, you have to have at least somebody in mind that you can get to come and fill his position — Tom Thibodeau's position. But it seems like they didn't have a plan in place," Johnson expressed. "If you got turned down by all these other teams who won't give you permission, then you've got to now turn to guys like him — (Mike) Malone from Denver, who just got fired — who is a championship coach. So there's guys out here."
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The Knicks have a busy offseason ahead of them, and the moves they make will likely determine the franchise's future success. They already have some outstanding players, but without a savvy coach at the helm, it will be difficult for New York to make any significant progress.
Related: Magic on how the Knicks mishandled the Thibodeau firing: "I can't believe they didn't have a plan in place"
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
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