Since Carmelo Anthony arrived nearly five years ago, the Knicks have built a series of top-heavy rosters that have revolved almost entirely around him, making it a requirement that he play well almost every night just to give the team a chance to win. Even with Anthony at his best, it often hasn’t been enough.

But this season has been a bit different, and not just for the presence of popular rookie forward Kristaps Porzingis, who has removed some of that weight from Anthony’s shoulders. Another newcomer has arguably had a...