2024 Knicks Regular Season Awards, Presented by Posting & Toasting

With the playoffs finally rolling, it’s time to take a look back at the crazy, up-and-down rollercoaster ride that was the unpredictable 2023-24 season in New York City and hand out some awards.

Here are our picks for the best New York Knicks. Let us know about yours in the comments section below!

Most Valuable Player: Jalen Brunson

It goes without saying, but Brunson was the most valuable player for the Knicks by a landslide, and really, among the most valuable players in the league. In a season that had so many rotation changes, trades, and injuries, the first-time All-Star remained healthy for much of the season and was the biggest reason the Knicks won 50 games for the first time since 2013.

Between his leadership, play on the court, demeanor, durability, and extremely team-friendly contract, Brunson truly was the most valuable player on and off the court.

Defensive Player of the Year: Isaiah Hartenstein

OG Anunoby is the best defensive player on the team. That is very clear. Very few players in the league possess the kind of versatility and unique combination of strength, wingspan, quickness, smarts, and effort that allows Anunoby to guard multiple positions and do so at an extremely high level. All of that allows him to make impact plays defensively consistently and be a pest, capable of disrupting an opponent’s offense single-handedly.

That being said, Anunoby missed a large chunk of time and didn’t start the season with the team, so I want to take this time to shout out Hartenstein who was so valuable for this team.

Now, Hartenstein may not be the kind of shot-blocking center that often gets Defensive Player of the Year considerations. But his knack for contesting shots without fouling and improved ability to be the perfect drop coverage center for a Tom Thibodeau defensive scheme that relies on its big men has been crucial in the team’s defensive success this season.

Sixth Man of the Year: Deuce McBride

Josh Hart would be the clear and easy choice for this award. His defense, rebounding, secondary playmaking, and intangibles are so important to this team and it’s clear that when the team is healthy, he’s the true sixth man. But he started so many games since February that it feels wrong to give him the award.

I’ll take this opportunity to give Miles “Deuce” McBride his flowers. Despite starting the season as a third-string point guard barely seeing real minutes, McBride was thrown into a significantly larger role after Immanuel Quickley was traded away.

At first, McBride was inconsistent and struggled a bit. But the third-year player looked more and more comfortable by the week and by the end of the season, he had become an important part of a Knicks team that relied on his tenacious defense and outside shooting.

Most Improved Player: Donte DiVincenzo

This Knicks team had so many players improve and over-perform outside expectations so guys like that the aforementioned Brunson, Hartenstein, and McBride all have an argument for this award.

For me, it’s been DiVincenzo. When he was signed, he was looked at as a potential starter who come in and maybe be a solid shooter. But he turned out to be so much more. Despite starting the season coming off the bench, DiVincenzo became a staple in the starting lineup, set multiple career-highs, and broke the franchise’s single-season three-point record all while being a reliable defender, great cutter, and solid playmaker.

Clutch Player of the Year: Josh Hart

The easy option here is Brunson. He’s ninth in the league in clutch points this season and has had too many clutch baskets, and assists to count. But in the spirit of spreading the love, I’m giving this award to Hart.

J-Hart may not have the most memorable clutch shots and sometimes he makes decisions late in games that make you want to pull your hair out. But it also seems like he’s had so many big moments when you really need it.

From grabbing crucial rebounds late in games to making the right pass, hitting an unexpected turnaround fadeaway midrange shot, and diving on the floor for a loose ball, he just seems to make big plays. And Hart also ranked 23rd in the league in clutch offensive rebounds and 20th in clutch rebounds this season, while also being 22nd in clutch steals. The decision is unconventional, but so is this team and Hart, and although it may be an unpopular pick, it’s mine.