Swingman Bruce Brown took the next step in his NBA career by signing a one-year, Exhibit Nine training camp contract with the New York Knicks to try and work his way onto the defending champions' roster and in his brief time with the Knicks so far, the eight-season veteran likes what he sees. 

Brown is a true journeyman of the NBA, playing for six different teams in his eight seasons, most recently with the Denver Nuggets, so he's experienced a variety of locker rooms and team cultures. 

But the Knicks' culture seems to have made a particular impact on him for one main reason: their connection with each other.

"They're super tight. Great locker room. Goofy, fun crowd to be with and be around. It shows why they won last year," Brown said (via SNY Knicks). 

Having a tight locker room by itself isn't an uncommon thing in the NBA, but the Knicks' bond with each other in particular seems to stand alone because of how deep it runs and how many individual relationships there are within the roster, starting first and foremost with the "Nova Knicks" trio of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges.

Those three played college together at Villanova, winning one national championship as a trio while Brunson and Bridges won another championship together after Hart had graduated. 

Their friendships obviously run deep, but there are intimate friendships across the roster that came to a particular light as the Knicks dominated the NBA playoffs last season. 

In every media availability the Knicks never passed up a chance to uplift each other or their head coach Mike Brown. Even as one player made a mistake, everyone else was quick to support them and take their own versions of accountability. 

That connection and the genuine love that they have for each other was the greatest intangible quality that made them NBA champions and allowed them to weather the storm when things got tough, like when they fell behind the Atlanta Hawks in the first round or when they fell behind the San Antonio Spurs by 29 points before eventually coming back.

For someone like Brown to notice that in such a small amount of time with the team speaks volumes to how much the connection within the locker room emanates off of the team and it explains why the Knicks could be such a premier destination for free agents to go to if they want some of that energy for themselves.

That connection may be in jeopardy in the moment as the Knicks' front office has paused all contract extension conversations after failing to find common ground with key players like Karl-Anthony Towns, but as long as this Knicks squad stays together, their genuine friendship will continue to be undeniable.