BREAKING NEWS: ‘We Gave It Everything’: New York Knicks Players and Coaches Speak Out After Crushing Playoff Loss to Pacers, Reflecting on a Hard-Fought Season, Missed Opportunities, and What Comes Next for the…

June 1, 2025 BIG MAN NBA 0

‘We Gave It Everything’: New York Knicks Players and Coaches Speak Out After Crushing Playoff Loss to Pacers, Reflecting on a Hard-Fought Season, Missed Opportunities, and What Comes Next for the…

There were no excuses, no finger-pointing—just a room full of exhausted players and staff trying to make sense of how a season filled with so much promise ended in heartbreak.

The New York Knicks were officially eliminated from the 2025 NBA Playoffs after a Game 7 loss to the Indiana Pacers in a series that swung wildly from start to finish. The 104–99 defeat at Madison Square Garden marked the end of a hard-fought battle and triggered an emotional response from a team that had believed—deeply—that this was their year.

“We gave it everything,” said All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson in the postgame press conference. “That’s the part that hurts the most. We didn’t leave anything out there. We just came up short.”

Brunson, who carried the team through much of the postseason, played through visible pain after a late third-quarter ankle tweak. Despite leading the Knicks in scoring once again, he looked devastated—less because of the stats and more because of the opportunity lost.

A Season of Growth—and Grit

The Knicks’ 2024–2025 season was marked by resilience. Despite a wave of mid-season injuries to key players like Julius Randle and OG Anunoby, the team fought to secure the No. 3 seed in the East. They dispatched the Miami Heat in Round 1 with grit and chemistry that reminded fans of the 1990s Knicks era.

But the Pacers, led by Tyrese Haliburton’s breakout postseason run, proved to be a tougher challenge. Every game was a slugfest. The Knicks held the series lead twice, only to watch Indiana storm back each time. Game 7 was no different: a back-and-forth battle that slipped away in the final minutes.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau, never one for dramatic emotion, was visibly reflective.

“We competed. We battled. We just didn’t finish,” Thibodeau said. “I’m proud of the way our guys represented this city and this franchise. That locker room has heart.”

Questions Ahead

As the Knicks head into the offseason, the emotions are still raw—but the questions have already begun. Will the front office make a major trade? Is Thibodeau’s system the right fit for a roster loaded with potential but still searching for postseason consistency? Can this core group take the next step?

Veteran forward Josh Hart, known for his vocal leadership, addressed the uncertainty head-on.

“We’ve got something special here, but we’ve got to be honest about what we need to do to get over the hump,” Hart said. “Every guy in that room wants it. That’s not the issue. Now it’s about taking that next step—mentally, physically, and as a team.”

A City Still Believes

Outside Madison Square Garden, disappointed but proud fans gathered to thank the team. Some waved Knicks flags, others chanted “Next year!” with the kind of weary hope only New York sports fans know so well.

For now, the pain of falling short is fresh. But for a franchise that once struggled to find its identity, this season proved something else: The Knicks are no longer a rebuilding story—they’re a real contender.

And while the loss stings, the message from players, coaches, and fans was clear: They’re not done. Not even close.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*