The Knicks' NBA Finals run has a surprising Call of Duty connection

The New York Knicks are back in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, ending one of the NBA's longest active Finals droughts. Much of this season's success can be attributed to the unbridled brilliance of Jalen Brunson, the offensive firepower of Karl-Anthony Towns and a roster that has found its identity at exactly the right moment. But there's also a surprising subplot that may help explain why this group of players works as well as it does.

Games like Call of Duty and Fortnite keep popping up around this Knicks core, from Brunson's COD squad with Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges for Hart's marathon Fortnite sessions. It's a small but telling detail that says a lot about how this group shuts down when the noise around them gets loud, but it also hints at something bigger. For this Knicks team, games aren't just a distraction. It's another way to build chemistry, handle pressure and hone your competitive edge.

Jalen Brunson's Call of Duty Squad includes several of his Knicks teammates

Jalen Brunson has never shied away from his love for Call of Dutyand it's easy to see why that's important in the context of this Knicks team and the incredible season they're having. For Brunson, COD is not just something to play between games. In an interview with Nice Kicks, he described the series as a way to keep in touch, saying it has “helped bring people together” and allowed him to stay in touch with friends from all over the country.

That connection becomes much more interesting when you look at who Brunson is playing Call of Duty with. When he was asked to build his dream NBA COD squad, Brunson is named both Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges. At the time, it was just a funny response from a gamer talking about one of his favorite games. Now, though, with the trio helping guide their team back to the NBA Finals, it reads more like a small preview of the chemistry that has helped define this group.

And Brunson's gambling habits go further than that Call of Duty. In an interview with The Strategist, he revealed that he is switching between COD and Fortnite depending on which friends are online, suggesting that for the Knicks captain, gaming is less about what he plays and more about who he plays it with. It's a small detail, but for a team built so tightly around trust, familiarity and shared competitiveness, these small details can often make a big difference.

Josh Hart turns Call of Duty and Fortnite into another competition

Josh Hart is probably the least surprising player on the current Knicks roster. He plays basketball like every moment matters, so it makes sense that he would bring that same kind of energy Call of Duty. While discussing War zone with SLAM a few years ago, Hart admitted that gaming gives him the same competitive exposure he gets on the court, with the 6'5″ swingman explaining that when he doesn't get his fix from basketball, he gets it from COD instead.

This elite thinking reveals a lot about Josh Hart, whose value to the Knicks has always been tied to energy, edge and effort. He rebounds like someone who takes every missed shot personally, turns lost possessions into second chances and gives New York the kind of relentless competitiveness that can help swing high-pressure playoff games. Call of Duty doesn't make him that type of player, but it fits the way he's wired perfectly.

The same competition suite has been shown in Fortnitealso. During his Lakers days, Hart told CBS Sports how he once played the popular battle royale title for ten hours straight before a game against the Cavs, with four TVs set up in the living room and an entire squad. For Brunson, gaming is about connection, but for Hart, it's about competition. The Knicks need both, and that balance helps explain why this team is now on the precipice of something very special.

Karl-Anthony Towns gives the Knicks' Gaming Connection real substance

Karl-Anthony Towns approaches games a little differently than his teammates. While Brunson and Hart's relationships with video games are rooted in friendship and competition, Towns has spoken of video games as more of a routine. The Knicks big man once told ClutchPoints that firing up his PlayStation 5 during the NBA season helps him relax and make the most of his free time between games. There may even be a performance angle.

An interview with Bleacher Report mentions that Towns has “used games to improve his hand-eye coordination and handle pressure situations.” As with Hart, that doesn't mean video games are the reason Towns can perform at such a high level, but it does make games feel like a more meaningful part of his routine. It's not just a way to bond with teammates or feel like he's winning. It's part of how he relaxes, recovers and stays sharp while away from the court.

The Knicks aren't the only ones who see value in games

In case you were wondering, there is research to back up the idea that video games can help with things like teamwork and hand-eye coordination. A 2018 BYU study found that newly formed teams performed better on tasks after playing video games together, lending some weight to the idea that games can help build communication and trust. It does not mean that any rounds of Fortnite can replace hard work on the practice field, but that adds weight to Brunson's comments about Call of Duty bring people closer together.

There is also research linking video games with hand-eye coordination and visuospatial skills, particularly in studies surrounding surgical training. Again, it's obviously not quite the same as playing basketball, but the overlap is easy enough to see. Quick games like Call of Duty and Fortnite requires players to react quickly, process potential threats, communicate effectively and make decisions under pressure. Those are useful habits for anyone, especially a team trying to stay connected during the most intense part of the NBA season.