During an interview with Sirius XM radio, Barkley said he predicts the New York franchise will play in the postseason.
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That’s a bold prediction for a team that only won 17 games last season. Although it’s not entirely impossible considering the weak Eastern Conference.
This is the second time this week that Barkley has given the Knicks credit. During Wednesday night’s schedule release, the TNT analyst praised Knicks president Phil Jackson for his work acquiring players in the offseason.
“I actually disagree with all the criticism that people are giving the Knicks. I think the Knicks should be on national television this year. They actually got NBA players," he said on NBA TV, per ESPN. “Robin Lopez is an NBA player, Arron Afflalo is an NBA player, (rookie) Jerian Grant is an NBA player. That’s three NBA players that they did not have last year. And they’re going to get Carmelo back. [First-round draft pick Kristaps] Porzingis is going to be a good player — maybe not right now, but he’s going to be a good player.”
He later added that the Knicks weren’t a team deserving of the national spotlight last season.
“There were times we showed the Knicks — and I’m not trying to badmouth the Knicks,” he said. “They had players who should be playing in the D-League or overseas. That’s just a fact. They didn’t have legitimate NBA players. But I give Phil Jackson credit."
The Knicks appear on national TV seven times in the upcoming season.
