Cousins Believes Knicks Need One More Piece to Contend

Former All-Star says Knicks lack a consistent second scoring option behind Jalen Brunson

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Former NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins believes the New York Knicks are still a piece away from being a true contender in the Eastern Conference. Despite having talent like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, Cousins says the Knicks need to add another reliable scoring option to take pressure off Brunson as the team's primary offensive threat.

Why it matters

The Knicks have struggled to find consistent success in recent seasons, and Cousins' assessment highlights an area the team may need to address in order to take the next step. Adding another scoring threat could help the Knicks become a more formidable playoff team in the East.

The details

Cousins made his comments on FanDuel TV's "Run It Back" show, noting that while the Knicks have the talent on paper, they lack the secondary scoring option to complement Brunson. He believes the team's reliance on Brunson to carry the offense every night is too much pressure. Cousins pointed to the Knicks' recent loss to the Pacers as an example, where Brunson had 40 points but the team still fell short.

  • The Knicks lost to the Pacers 137-134 on Tuesday, February 11, 2026.

The players

DeMarcus Cousins

A former NBA All-Star who is now an analyst on FanDuel TV.

Jalen Brunson

The Knicks' leading scorer and primary offensive option.

Karl-Anthony Towns

An All-Star center for the Knicks who has struggled to find consistency this season.

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What they’re saying

“I do think they still have things to figure out. On paper, they have the talent. They've been together long enough. They have the experience together. It's just about remaining consistent. [But] I do think they're a piece away. They need to add another scoring option. I think it's a lot of pressure on [Jalen] Brunson every night to be the go-to-guy.”

— DeMarcus Cousins, NBA Analyst (FanDuel TV)

What’s next

The Knicks will look to address their need for a secondary scoring option in the upcoming offseason through free agency or trades.

The takeaway

DeMarcus Cousins' assessment highlights the Knicks' reliance on Jalen Brunson as their primary offensive threat, and the need for the team to add another consistent scoring option to take pressure off Brunson and help the team reach the next level in the Eastern Conference.