The New York Knicks are in a slump, and one franchise legend believes he knows exactly why.
Carmelo Anthony has pointed to the team’s stagnant offense and over-reliance on Jalen Brunson as the main cause of their recent struggles, which have now seen them lose four straight games.
The Knicks have dropped out of the Eastern Conference’s top tier after a series of close defeats, struggling to find consistency in clutch moments.
The team’s late-game execution has become a recurring issue, and for Anthony, the problem is both tactical and psychological.
Carmelo Anthony calls out New York Knicks’ predictable offense
Speaking on NBA Showtime, Carmelo said in a clip shared by NBA Courtside on X, “The late game offense becomes so, so predictable.
Melo added: “The shot creation, that burden on Jalen Brunson, is too heavy on his shoulders from a night-to-night basis.
“The margins are very thin. Because without easy offense, the Knicks missed shots that they turn into run-offs the other way.”
Anthony’s assessment hit at a truth Knicks fans have felt all season. When Brunson isn’t scoring or creating, the team struggles to generate rhythm or spacing.
The lack of ball movement and off-the-ball activity has allowed defenses to collapse on Brunson, forcing difficult shots and turnovers late in games.
New York’s offense has ranked near the bottom of the league over the last week, averaging under 105 points per game during their current four-game losing streak.
For Carmelo, who carried the Knicks’ offense himself during his prime years at Madison Square Garden, the problem isn’t effort but creativity. He believes the team has to diversify its approach if they want to end the skid and re-establish momentum in the East.
Carmelo Anthony takes aim at Jalen Brunson
Anthony also offered advice for how the team can recover from its poor form, saying, “When you just focus on Jalen Brunson, and there is no movement, there’s no offense, there’s stagnation, and I don’t want to say you are getting punked, but you are getting punked.
He concluded: “The Knicks will take this game and build off of this. I don’t think this is a time to panic. They have to get themselves together. The last five games they haven’t been showing up.”
Anthony acknowledged that Brunson has been outstanding but argued that his workload has become unsustainable. For the Knicks to succeed, others must step up and share responsibility on offense.
Despite the losing streak, Carmelo still believes there is enough quality in the squad to turn things around. He praised the team’s defensive effort and mental toughness but warned that without a more balanced attack, the Knicks risk falling further behind in the playoff race.
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