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Ranking the Top 5 Individual Performances from Knicks 2023-24 Season

The New York Knicks had a season full of amazing performances in 2023-24. Here is our list of the five outings that stood out the most.

By Stephen Lebitsch

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) before the start of game seven of the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) before the start of game seven of the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
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4. Julius Randle’s 39 Jumpstarts January Winning Streak  

Jan 1, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) looks to drive past Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) in the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) looks to drive past Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) in the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports / Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Before his shoulder injury took effect in late January, Julius Randle was known as a centerpiece forward who could give the Knicks 25 points and 10 rebounds per night. On New Year’s Day, he went beyond that to kick the Knicks into high gear in the second half of the season. 

Facing the streaky Minnesota Timberwolves who were battling for supremacy atop the Western Conference at the time, Randle put on a clinic on bully ball in the paint. Playing 36 minutes, he shot 14-24 from the field, including 2-6 from the perimeter, to score 39 points and added nine rebounds to help New York overcome a back-and-forth boxing match with the NBA’s best team through 33 games.

Randle’s performance marked his fourth 30+ point game of the regular season and would lead off a string of six similar performances throughout January. It also was his second-most active offensive game of the year which was a testament to the veteran forward putting the team on his back in the important minutes of the contest. 

Randle came roaring out of the gate with two three-point jumpers from 22 and 25 feet to give the Knicks some early juice in a first quarter that was dominated by the Timberwolves. He also added several attempts from the free throw line to assert his presence in the interior which was something the team soon missed during his absence later in the season. 

Then, in the fourth quarter, Randle turned back on the motors and scored 11 of the Knicks’ 18 points to secure the come-from-behind win at Madison Square Garden. What was most impressive was the relentless Randle displayed on the defensive end to keep Minnesota’s threats in Karl Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert quiet and secure second-chance opportunities for himself and the Knicks to put points on their end of the scoreboard. 

With all of that, the Knicks were able to earn their 18th win of the year and kickstart one of the franchise’s best runs in recent history. The rest of January saw them notch 11 more wins to hold the best record in the league in that span and opened up a 15-2 run that was aided by the arrival of OG Anunoby.

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