The Knicks dropped their 2023-24 schedule on Thursday. Here are 10 games to mark on your calendar.
The New York Knicks schedule has dropped, and the season can’t come soon enough. If the FIBA tournament, Grimes workouts, and the downfall of conference rivals have you eager for basketball, you’re not the only one. ESPN’s Bobby Marks just made a bold early Finals prediction that included New York and Phoenix. There hasn’t been more belief in the Knicks since Derrick Rose’s ‘superteam.’
Rising star actor Obi Toppin couldn’t play the lead in a Knicks schedule drop sequel, so the franchise called an old Hollywood A-lister to fill in.
The Knicks’ 2023-24 season will feature 25(!) total games on national television, 12 back-to-backs, and two four-game West Coast trips in December and March. Here’s the full Knicks schedule:
Surely, diehard fans will lock into all 82 games and every KFTV post-game and play-by-play. But I get it—people have work in the morning, the kids have school, and the cardiac trauma this team gives you isn’t worth the entertainment, win or lose.
For the more casual fans, here are 10 games you should cue up on the DVR for their storylines, competitiveness, and excitement.
Season and Home Opener vs. Boston, 10/25/23
Forget the rivalry, this should have been the Eastern Conference Finals matchup last season. A remodeled Celtics team comes to town without Marcus Smart and possibly Kristaps Porzingis, too, as the big man battles plantar fasciitis.
The last time these teams played in a season opener, it was a fun one. Let’s hope 8th Avenue gets flooded again on Opening Night.
Spida Homecoming vs. Cleveland, 11/1/23
The zombie Donovan-Mitchell-to-the-Knicks rumors won’t die (nor should they, because the Knicks could still use more firepower). Miles Morales impersonator Donovan Mitchell faces his hometown team on Halloween in Cleveland and then comes to the Garden on Nov. 1. The Cavs will look to avenge an embarrassing first-round loss with new reinforcements in Knicks killers Max Strus and Georges Niang.
First Group B Game at Milwaukee, 11/3/23
New York will get its first taste of In-Season Tournament basketball when they visit Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. It’ll be Team Regular Season Grinders against Team Regular Season Coasters, but I expect a hard-fought battle in their inaugural tournament game. The Bucks’ size, spacing, and superstar talent always make for a tough matchup. The Knicks have lost the last six games against them.
Wemby Watch, 11/8/23
The seven-foot-infinity French alien will be in town in early November. Those who can’t make the trip to MSG can also catch the game on ESPN. Some have said that Victor Wembanyama is the best prospect since LeBron James. Per Stat Muse, Bron averages 28.1 points, 7.5 assists, and 6.9 rebounds in his career at Madison Square Garden. Those are big shoes to fill, even for someone who wears a size 20.5. Let’s see how Wemby does under the brightest of lights.
Group B Rivalry Game vs. Miami, 11/24/23
Dame or no Dame, the Miami Heat will give the Knicks another bloody battle, especially in a playoff atmospheric game. Even without Gabe Vincent and Max Struss, they have the data, coaching, and game plan that has been proven to work.
The Knicks acquired shooter Donte DiVincenzo after the heartbreaking Game 6 loss, but is it enough? Will anyone else step up to help Jalen Brunson? Will Miami neutralize Mitchell Robinson again? And how will Julius Randle respond? We’ll find out the answer to those questions one way or another.
In-Season Tournament Games, 12/4/23 through 12/9/23
Is this cheating? Not really. We don’t know exactly what the bracket will look like when the Knicks make the tournament, so just be sure to mark this week of December on your calendars with a highlighter.
It’s been a while since the Knicks won something meaningful. Here is an excellent opportunity to jumpstart a new legacy. For better or worse, Tom Thibodeau’s coaching style was made for high-stakes regular season games. He won’t hesitate to play anyone for 40+ minutes.
Christmas at the Garden vs. Milwaukee, 12/25/23
The second half of a back-to-back against Milwaukee will happen around noon in our living rooms while we open gifts and eat brunch. Giannis destroyed the Knicks with 30 points and 14 rebounds on Xmas in 2018. Sadly, he could play Grinch again.
The NBA did the Knicks no favors by giving them three matchups against the Bucks before the New Year.
Post-Trade Deadline Game vs. Indiana, 2/10/24
An honorable mention goes to the Knicks vs. Pacers game on Feb. 2, the first time Obi Toppin is set to return to New York since being traded. But just eight days later, he’ll come back to face a Knicks squad that may look slightly different.
The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 8, 2024, and over the last three seasons, New York has acquired rotation players mid-season in Derrick Rose (2021), Cam Reddish (2022), and Josh Hart (2023). Whether it’s a star, a backup forward, or someone else, the Knicks could be active again near the deadline, and the Pacers would be one of the first litmus tests they face.
Embiid Visits the Garden, 3/10/24
The Sixers won’t be in town until mid-March, and a lot can happen between now and then. On Christmas last year, Joel Embiid spread his arms and roared to the crowd. Maybe this time, they’ll roar back and make him feel at home.
A Crucial Season Finale vs. Chicago, 4/14/24
It’s not too often that the fate of a team’s seeding comes down to their final game. Typically, the seeds are locked in by early April and teams double down on load management for their main stars, hence the Quickley-Grimes-Toppin 107-point bonanza we witnessed late last season.
The Knicks, though, should be fighting with the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference—Milwaukee, Philly, Boston, Cleveland, and Miami—for home-court advantage, and the Bulls may be in position to play spoiler in game 82. Knicks vs. Bulls games also usually provide some timeless highlights. Not to mention the Zach LaVine murmurs that may crescendo, too.
The Knicks finished 3-7 in the 10 ‘can’t miss’ games I listed last year. Let’s hope I’m not bad luck here.
Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps throughout the 2021-22 NBA season. And in case you missed it, check out the first episode of the Fan Fridays series, where CP The Fanchise and Alex Trataros answer your burning Knicks questions.
