Larry Johnson Believes Knicks Can ‘Go Far’ In Playoffs, But No Title

Larry Johnson loves what he sees with the NY Knicks (granted, we talked to him earlier than the Magic loss) … and says in the event that they maintain hooping like they have been, he sees Jalen Brunson‘s squad making a run within the playoffs!

“I’m very happy with what we look like this year,” the Knicks legend instructed Babcock on the “TMZ Sports” TV present (airs weeknights on FS1) earlier this week.

“I do believe Jalen is the best player or he’s definitely the most valuable, running the team and getting the people to their right spots.”

Brunson — who Johnson calls “nephew” (LJ was teammates with Jalen’s dad, Rick Brunson) — has been taking part in lights out since signing with New York for $104 million final July. At the time, pundits known as him overpaid. Now, it is known as some of the team-friendly contracts within the sport.

Jalen’s averaging 23.8 factors, 6.2 assists and three.5 rebounds per recreation.

During the season, the Knicks traded for Jalen’s former Villanova teammate, Josh Hart … and Johnson loves the transfer, lauding the previous Blazers ahead for being “a dog on defense.”

“That’s that New York mentality,” Johnson mentioned.

With Brunson taking part in like an All-Star, Hart’s hustle, and the Knicks in fifth place within the East,  Johnson does not consider the Knicks will likely be a one-and-done playoff workforce.

But, he does not foresee a ticker-tape parade, both.

“Definitely don’t see them winning the championship this year. I see them going far,” the 54-year-old mentioned. “I can definitely see them winning the first series.”

We additionally requested Larry — an NCAA champ at UNLV — about this 12 months’s tourney and the countless stunning upsets … like number-one seeds Purdue and Kansas, amongst different groups, being despatched house early.

“I like that,” the previous #1 general draft decide mentioned. “I like it being more competitive. I mean it didn’t happen as often when I was around.”

“I much love this more competitive tournament than like a blowout tournament.”