Chemistry is a huge trait in sports, and the Knicks should know why, snapping a 53-year Finals drought.
The New York Knicks didn't build a championship team overnight.
According to team president Leon Rose, the foundation of the franchise's first NBA title since 1973 wasn't just talent—it was chemistry.
Appearing on the latest episode of the Roommates Podcast with Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, Rose detailed the vision behind constructing the Knicks' championship roster, emphasizing that every personnel decision centered around building the right culture and surrounding Brunson with players who fit both on and off the court.
"We were all about changing the culture and getting guys that fit within the culture that we wanted, a winning culture," Rose said.
Where the Belief Started
Rose's belief in Brunson dates back to the 2022 NBA Playoffs when the then-Dallas Mavericks guard stepped into a starring role while Luka Dončić was missing time with an injury. Rose saw enough to make Brunson the centerpiece of New York's rebuild, signing him in free agency and shaping the roster around his strengths.
Once Brunson arrived, the Knicks carefully assembled complementary pieces rather than simply collecting star power.
Jalen Brunson (11) dribbles against San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) in the second half during game five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Josh Hart, Brunson's former Villanova teammate and close friend, became one of the first additions. Rose later added Karl-Anthony Towns, believing the All-Star center's offensive versatility would fit seamlessly alongside Brunson.
OG Anunoby gave New York an elite two-way wing, while Mikal Bridges rounded out the roster by providing another versatile defender capable of contributing on both ends of the floor.
For Rose, however, those moves were never solely about basketball talent.
Jalen Brunson (11) reacts to a Josh Hart (not pictured) three pointer against the Philadelphia 76ers during the third quarter of game three of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena."Josh was a huge part of that also," Rose said. "The chemistry just means so much. The way these guys are on the court, it's telepathic. KAT was another guy who fit great with the group. And OG, whom we had brought in the year before, was another that we thought was a two-way player who was gonna fit with the group. And then Mikal was the last piece, gave us a second wing. That was the vision."
That vision ultimately paid off.
alen Brunson (11) and guard Josh Hart (3) react in the third quarter against the Indiana Pacers during game one of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Knicks Breaking the Finals Drought
The Knicks captured the 2025 NBA Cup before carrying that momentum into a historic 2025-26 campaign. After winning 51 games the previous season and reaching the Eastern Conference Finals, New York took another step forward by retooling its roster and hiring Mike Brown as head coach.
The team also added Jordan Clarkson in free agency while acquiring Jeremy Sochan and Jose Alvarado during the season, giving the Knicks even greater depth around their established core.
New York's commitment to culture extended beyond the court.
Following their NBA Cup victory, the organization famously declined to hang a championship banner, choosing instead to remain focused on the ultimate goal of winning an NBA championship.
Jalen Brunson (11) and guard Josh Hart (3) celebrate after defeating the Detroit Pistons during game six of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena.Months later, that goal became reality.
Led by Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, who erupted for 45 points in the title-clinching Game 5, the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs to capture the franchise's first Larry O'Brien Trophy in more than five decades.
While building around an elite player like Brunson was essential, surrounding him with teammates who embraced the same culture ultimately turned the Knicks from contenders into champions.
