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Brown Warns The Knicks To Expect A Fight

The coach previews adversity, Rondo drops by camp, and Drummond eyes the paint Robinson left behind

37.7Brunson's ppg on last year's streak
By the Knicks Nightly Desk · Wednesday, September 30

Mike Brown is bracing the champions for adversity and hinting at role changes, while camp fills in around him with a Rondo sighting and a plan at center. Two more Knicks are nursing minor injuries, but nothing threatens the Oct. 20 opener.

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Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Brown Sounds The Alarm

Mike Brown told the New York Post the champions should expect adversity this season, and that the roster may need to "do a lot of different things" to answer it. That reads as coach-speak for role changes on a group that just won a title.

Drummond's New Job

The Post reported Andre Drummond feels built to fill the void left by Mitchell Robinson's departure. At 33 and in his 14th season, he is the clearest plan the Knicks have shown for that spot on the floor.

Health Report

N'Faly Dante is out with a right knee issue and not expected back until Nov. 2. Drew Eubanks and Mohamed Diawara are both banged up but targeting an Oct. 1 return, well ahead of the opener.

Rondo In The Building

Rajon Rondo, a friend of Jalen Brunson, visited Knicks practice this week, the Post reported. Small detail, but it puts a three-time champion in Brunson's circle right as camp ramps up.

Bottom Line

The record is still 0-0. Preseason opens Oct. 5 at Philadelphia, and the real thing starts Oct. 20 against the Sixers on NBC. The only question is whether Brown's warning about adversity is standard coach-speak or a real signal of how much this roster changes.

When do the Knicks play their first game of the 2026-27 season?

New York opens the regular season on Oct. 20 against the 76ers on NBC and Peacock, after preseason games starting Oct. 5 at Philadelphia.

What is N'Faly Dante's injury status?

Dante is out with a right knee issue and is not expected back until Nov. 2, so he will miss the start of camp and the preseason.

By the Knicks Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.

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