Leon Rose is not the most accessible NBA executive. He does almost no interviews and has relatively zero interaction with the fans. I was shocked when I saw him in Denver and was able to get him to stop for a quick photo. I almost felt afraid to even ask given the mysterious and distant persona he has cultivated since becoming President of the Knicks in March of 2020. Nevertheless, he was polite and appreciative of what I told him; “You’re doing a great job with the team”.
The truth is, Leon Rose is doing a phenomenal job as de facto general manager of the New York Knicks. Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson are All-Star caliber players on bargain-level contracts. RJ Barrett is a young and improving guard on another team-friendly deal through 2027. Mitchell Robinson was a steal at 36th overall and has blossomed into an elite rim protector in the NBA. Immanuel Quickly is quietly turning into a crafty playmaking backup point guard that can shoot a high percentage from the three point and free throw lines. Deuce McBride (also drafted 36th overall), looks like the next Chris Childs, a tight-defending, streaky three-point shooting guard adored by Knicks fans for his toughness and effort. And all of this has happened without the Knicks sacrificing draft capital. In fact, they hold 10 first round draft picks from now to 2029. The Knicks haven’t been in this good a position in terms of on-court talent and financial stability since…ever?
Despite this, not every Knick fan is overjoyed with Leon Rose’s job performance. Many fans criticize his inability to land Donavon Mitchell this past offseason. He’s been called out for never speaking to the media aside from one or two scripted interviews each year. The Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker contracts did not make the Knicks a better team. None of his moves have been particularly high-profile, yet, at 33-27 heading into the 2023 All-Star break, the Knicks have their best record thus far in a decade. And what will critical fans say once Rose inevitably signs another big-name free agent this off season? Is it time to admit that Leon Rose has figured out how to construct a perennial NBA contender?
Most importantly, Leon Rose has been able to accomplish something incredibly valuable, he’s successfully shed the reputation that the Knicks are an organization mired by operational ineptitude. No longer can the casual NBA fan ridicule the Knicks front office for repeated self-sabotage. You no longer get the sense around the NBA that the Knicks are an organization on the fast track to nowhere. Leon Rose has changed the culture. He, along with Thom Thibodeau (whom he selected) have made the Knicks relevant again. The Knicks have regained credibility, and according to LeBron James, “the league is simply better when the Knicks are winning.” Knicks fans couldn’t agree more.
Fresh Mootz 