The New York Knicks have begun their season with an 0-3 record, a start that marks them as the first defending champions since the 2011-12 Dallas Mavericks to face such a deficit.
If the Knicks lose their next game against the Pistons, they would become the first defending champions since the 1969-70 Boston Celtics to open a season with four consecutive losses.
The team's performance comes after a summer where players and staff discussed avoiding complacency and aiming to build on their championship success. However, the early games have not reflected the team's previous championship-level play.
Despite the uncharacteristic start, it is still very early in the regular season. With only a small percentage of games played, it is considered too soon to make definitive pronouncements about the team's prospects for the remainder of the year.