With the trade of Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks in January, the New York Knicks are officially without an all-star. The Knicks have not been taken seriously since their 54 wins 2013-14 season. You could say that team had several all-stars; unfortunately none of those players was able to take the team beyond the second round of the playoffs.
Does a team need an all-star or a “superstar” to be a contender? In today’s NBA, many think yes. Actually, after 2019’s free agency, it is apparently the consensus that a team needs at least a dynamic duo to make it to the playoffs.