Four-time NBA Champion Shaquille O’Neal made a bold playoff prediction about the New York Knicks. During an episode of TNT’s Inside the NBA last Tuesday, Shaq predicted that the Knicks wouldn’t make it past the first round of the playoffs, despite their strong regular season performance.
Currently ranked third in the Eastern Conference with a 50–28 record, the Knicks have four games remaining in the 2024–25 NBA season. They are in a strong position to begin the postseason as one of the top three seeds, which would give them home-court advantage in the first round.
If they secure that spot, they could potentially face the sixth-seeded Detroit Pistons (43–36), depending on how the final standings play out. However, with only a handful of games left, there’s still room for shuffling in the standings, and matchups could change quickly.
Shaq, known for his candid and often controversial takes, shared his doubts about the Knicks’ playoff potential, stating bluntly that he doesn’t believe they’ll survive the first round.
“I don’t think they’re good enough to advance to the second round,” Shaq said.
When asked by co-host Adam Lefkoe whether he thought New York would lose a seven-game series to Detroit, O’Neal didn’t hesitate in his response.
“Oh yeah, hell yeah,” Shaq replied. “Cade [Cunningham], hell yeah. Isaiah Stewart, oh yes.”
The Pistons are on track for their first playoff appearance since 2019 and are led by a promising young core that includes Cunningham, Jalen Duren, and Ausar Thompson—all of whom would be making their postseason debuts. While the team lacks playoff experience, Shaq believes their athleticism, hunger, and talent give them the edge in a potential matchup against the Knicks.
Jalen Brunson Returns Ahead of Knicks’ Postseason Run
The Knicks have faced adversity throughout the season, particularly due to injuries. All-Star guard Jalen Brunson missed significant time recently, playing just three games in March before being sidelined with an ankle injury. He also missed the first three games of April, creating uncertainty about his postseason readiness.
However, Brunson returned to the lineup on Sunday against the Phoenix Suns, logging 34 minutes and finishing with 15 points and six assists. With Brunson back and the roster nearing full health, the Knicks have a key leader returning at the perfect time.
Brunson has appeared in 62 games this season and is currently averaging 26.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game. His leadership and playmaking will be critical as the Knicks look to prove Shaq wrong and make a deep playoff run.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
