MSG Networks\u2019 Knicks game analyst Steve Novak is the primary backup for Walt \u201cClyde\u201d Frazier. Novak\u2019s next game on MSG is Jan. 7 at home vs Clippers before calling a four-game West Coast trip \u2014 with stops at Portland, Sacramento and Golden State. Before hitting the road, he takes a timeout for some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.<\/p>\n
Q: What do you like best about this Knicks team?<\/p>\n
A: I think the way that they play can win a championship. And by that I mean the toughness, the grittiness. \u2026 It seems like there\u2019s a buy-in and a desperation that you have to have if you\u2019re going to be there at the end. And right now I feel like every guy on that roster seems to represent that in a way that shows that they\u2019re not watching their record, they\u2019re not watching that their No. 2 in the East. It seems like, to me, it\u2019s embodied by Josh Hart<\/a>, the way he plays, and the scrappiness and the willingness to break your finger off and bloody your nose and do whatever it takes. I think that\u2019s the North Star for me right now. When people say, \u201cDo you think they can really win it?\u201d Yeah, if you play that hard and the system is working and there\u2019s a buy-in like you can clearly see right now, to me the answer is yes.<\/p>\n Q: What are your thoughts on Mike Brown?<\/p>\n A: A coach that you bring in who you know is going to implement a system so thoughtfully.<\/a> I think he\u2019s \u2026 call it a basketball scientist. When I think about Mike, I think he\u2019s someone who can use all the experience of all the teams and all the great players that he\u2019s had \u2014 like Timmy Duncan, and LeBron [James] and Steph [Curry] and all those guys, and obviously those experiences to me include being on teams that win big and him understanding in a repeated way how to be great with great players.<\/p>\n Steve Novak serves as an analyst for MSG Network. Michelle Farsi\/MSGE(S)<\/p>\n Q: What is the difference between the Jalen Brunson you saw in Dallas versus the Jalen Brunson you see now?<\/p>\n A: Whether it was Dallas or it was Villanova, you see the confidence and the calm in his eye in the biggest moments. Where we are now, you almost see the same guy. He\u2019s the epitome of a leader<\/a>. When Mitch [Robinson] gets a rebound and he throws the ball to Jalen, I feel my blood pressure go down, and I think that\u2019s the sign of a leader. He\u2019ll score if he needs to, he\u2019ll get to the paint if he needs to, he\u2019ll call a play if he needs to \u2014 by needs to I mean what\u2019s right for the team. You\u2019ve seen a guy give up money and ooze leadership while his team is winning, which means (laugh) he\u2019s doing a lot right.<\/p>\n Q: Karl Anthony Towns?<\/p>\n A: I know it\u2019s not been the smoothest year for him, but what I see from Karl right now is his buy-in and belief and desperation to win. He\u2019s shown that he\u2019s an incredibly professional guy who\u2019s in it to win it right now.<\/p>\n Q: At times he has Steve Novak range.<\/p>\n A: Yeah, and you better believe there\u2019s no one that loves it more than me (laugh). I think we can\u2019t forget for a second that that\u2019s one of the greatest values he has whether he makes the shot or not, is if the 5 man on the other team is guarding him and has to come out and worry about him, then that\u2019s creating so much offense for this group. His value whether he\u2019s scoring 2 or he\u2019s scoring 40 is immense when he\u2019s out there.<\/p>\n Q: Do you like KAT and Mitch playing together?<\/p>\n A: I do. Mitch is down there owning the glass and banging guys and using his fouls and being an interior presence, and although KAT can do a lot of that, he can be on the perimeter and he can be a weakside defender and he can roam a little bit. That size in the NBA with that skill level, when they complement each other, I think is deadly.<\/p>\n Q: What makes Mitch such a fearsome offensive rebounder?<\/p>\n A: I think it\u2019s most of what probably the typical fan doesn\u2019t even watch for, which is the early work that he does to get himself in position<\/a>. And also I think it\u2019s his mentality to know that he believes he\u2019s out there for one purpose, he\u2019s out there to rebound the ball 45 times a game.<\/p>\n Knicks center Mitchell Robinson #23 passes the ball to guard Tyler Kolek during the fourth quarter against the Cavaliers on Dec. 25, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg \/ New York Post<\/p>\n Q: OG Anunoby?<\/p>\n A: The thing that I love most about him is his unassuming demeanor. And at the same time as he\u2019s got that calm, he is one of the best defensive players in the league, clearly a Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Also the way that he affects both ends of the floor, especially this year, the 3-point shot and the defensive presence, it\u2019s overwhelming.<\/p>\n Q: Josh Hart?<\/p>\n A: He reminds me in some ways of Dwyane Wade. I played with Dwyane in college [at Marquette], and one of the first times I realized like he was a different player was a game \u2026 at Tulane, and we were down by 10 or 15, and Dwyane completely took the game over with plays basically in every aspect of the game. \u2026 To me, Josh is a guy that impacts the game in so many ways. Josh impacts winning so obviously that you have to have him out there.<\/p>\n Q: Mikal Bridges?<\/p>\n A: The thing I love about Bridges is the ease of shotmaking that he brings this team even though they\u2019re some of the most difficult shots I\u2019ve seen, very Kevin Durant-esque \u2014 with the fadeaway with the mid-range in the moments where you really need it where they\u2019re really hunkering down on certain guys trying to take Jalen out, trying to load up on KAT, trying to do certain things, and Mikal is a calming presence that\u2019s capable of having huge games every game. I view him as the guy who\u2019s likely going to be hitting some of the biggest shots come playoff time because of who he is on this team.<\/p>\n Knicks head coach Mike Brown (M) speaks with guard Josh Hart #3 (L) and guard Jalen Brunson #11 (R) during the third quarter of a November 2025 game. Charles Wenzelberg \/ New York Post<\/p>\n Q: Miles \u201cDeuce\u201d McBride?<\/p>\n A: Just a huge X-factor. I view him as a huge off-the-bench spark.<\/p>\n Q: Jordan Clarkson?<\/p>\n A: I would say similar to Deuce in a lot of ways. The thing that stands out to me about Jordan is his ability to be an additional ball handler. I think the pace that he pushes the ball often when he has it, to me creates this little bit of chaos that\u2019s good for any team. I think the defense is very uncertain (laugh) if he\u2019s handling, if he\u2019s attacking, if he\u2019s going to push to pull it back out, if he\u2019s going to push to shoot a transition 3. \u2026 I think about LaMelo Ball and the chaos he kind of creates with his wildness, in a good way. He creates really good chaos at times and at many points, it ends up being some big offensive runs.<\/p>\n Q: Tyler Kolek?<\/p>\n