During the long summers, there’s plenty to do in New York City, especially for young pro basketball players. More often than not, they have both the means and the free time necessary to have some fun.



But during the month of August—with a demanding new head coach and a collection of fresh faces—David Fizdale’s young Knicks players had other ideas.



Instead of spending frequent late nights in Manhattan, Enes Kanter, Noah Vonleh and Isaiah Hicks joined Frank Ntilikina, Trey Burke and Damyean Dotson as those who decided to heed the wishes of their head coach and dedicate their spare time to one another.



For a team that’s become more renowned for its dysfunction than its winning ways, Fizdale’s Knicks are not only a young batch, but a new one.



“From day one, coach challenged us,” Enes Kanter said. “He said ‘I want you to get one percent better every day,’ so that’s what we’ve...