The Knicks enter the 2025-26 season with a new head coach but the same championship aspirations as a year ago, and things tipped off officially on Tuesday with the start of training camp.

Head coach Mike Brown, as well as key players like Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges all met with the media on Tuesday, talking about the busy offseason that was and the exciting season to come.

Here are the key takeaways...

Mike Brown on the starting lineup and rotation

The Knicks used the same starting five -- Brunson, Towns, Hart, Bridges, and OG Anunoby -- for just about all of the 2024-25 regular season. And while former head coach Tom Thibodeau was reluctant to make changes to the lineup, he ultimately did insert Mitchell Robinson into the starting lineup ahead of Game 3 of Eastern Conference Finals against Indiana, moving Hart to the bench.

With that in mind, the starting lineup heading into this season is already a topic of conversation. But according to Brown, it's too early to say who will make up the starting five.

"It will materialize throughout camp," Brown said. "I think it’s too early to go in and say ‘hey, this is what’s going to happen.’ The roster, Leon [Rose] and his group did a fantastic job putting together a talented, deep roster, and so you have to be methodical with your approach when it comes to declaring ‘Okay, these guys are going to start.’"

Thibodeau also notoriously used a very short rotation, and shrank it even more in the playoffs to around eight players.

Brown said he'll likely use more players, with everyone having a chance to contribute throughout the year.

"If you look at what I’ve done in the past, it’s usually nine-and-a-half to 10 guys," Brown said. "I try to play as many guys as I can. Even when I was in [Sacramento] and we had an injury during the season, there was a point in time towards the end of the season where I started a two-way guy in Keon Ellis. So, I’m going to try to play who can help us win, and I’m going to try to give guys an opportunity. So, hopefully with as deep as our roster is, everybody will get an opportunity at some point during the season."

Brunson on Thibs' firing

Prior to Thibodeau's dismissal after the ECF loss to the Pacers, Brunson was one of his strongest defenders.

Asked immediately after the Game 6 loss if Thibodeau was the right person to lead the Knicks, Brunson was adamant.

"Is that a real question right now?" Brunson said after the Game 6 loss to the Pacers. "You just asked me if I believe he's the right guy? Yes."

Asked about Thibodeau on Tuesday, Brunson expressed his gratitude to his former coach.

“Obviously it’s sad to see a man I’ve known for a long time part ways with this organization, but he’s meant a lot to me," Brunson said. "I’ve expressed that publicly and personally. But yeah, he’s meant a lot to my career, to this point."

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