The Knicks are in full re-build mode, and it’s only taken 4 years to finally get there.

It’s seemed like such a long time ago, since the New York Knicks have had a young, fun team. A team that may not be good at the beginning of the season, or even at the end of the season, but can grow to make physical and tangible strides throughout the season.

In the past, you could look up and down the roster, and you’d see the occasional “R” or “1” or “2” next to the name of one or two of the players on basketball-reference, but the Knicks management loved veteran teams, because supposedly veteran teams win. That hasn’t been the case with the Knicks.

There came a time in 2014, where all of us Knicks fans thought a re-build was coming. Phil was here, the team stunk, and Carmelo Anthony had season ending left knee surgery after the All-Star Break, which was delayed by months because of the ASG being in New York. The team won 17 games, and we all thought, “This is the pivot point. We will get one top 5 lottery pick, it’s time to build on that younger generation, and not on Melo, Jose Calderon and Samuel Dalembert.”

It was on it’s way, with the emergence of Kristaps Porzingis, but then after that fun 2015 year, Phil saw another pivot point. Trade youth for Derrick Rose and add Joakim Noah. Once again, we saw the average age of the team shoot up, which lead to more frustration and losing. The dysfunction was the end of Phil, but Phil wasn’t done with us.

Last year was supposed to be the year of the kids, but Phil’s head coach appointee, Jeff Hornacek had other plans, much to the chagrin of new GM Scott Perry. The Rookie Point Guard Frank Ntilikina was supposed to get reps. Damyean Dotson, the rookie Shooting Guard, was supposed to get at least some burn. Instead we got 1800 minutes of Jarrett Jack, and more Courtney Lee and Tim Hardaway Jr. than we probably should have been given.

And after so many years of “pivoting” to a re-build, it seems like we’re finally in the midst of it, and it could not be more enjoyable. We’ve already had our new coach, David Fizdale, say that the Kids will need to sink or swim, and they will get their opportunities to do both.

And that’s before the young talent is finally coming full circle. There’s Frankie Smokes, going into his second season, looking to build on being one of the best defenders in the league right now, while honing his offensive skills. Rookie Kevin Knox looks like a lengthy, legit do-it-all forward, who can score, handle the ball, and even showed some chops defending. Mitchell Robinson may have been the steal of the draft, a rim-running center with ridiculous defensive instincts, and an athletic monster.

And then we get to the centerpiece of it all, the Unicorn, himself. Kristaps Porzingis will miss at least a quarter of the season, coming back from a torn ACL. Without the best player on the court, the Knicks will be in prime position to get one last high lottery pick, and will complete the team, when he comes back. With that 5 lottery talents picked (if you’re including Robinson, which I am) all under 24, and Free Agency to boot, the Knicks luck is looking up. For the first time in a long time, there’s buzz that players want to come to New York, with the Knicks able to even open up space for one max contract.

Even if no one comes, the team will still be in good position with cap flexibility, and young talent that has a legitimate chance to grow. And as small as it is, this is all us Knick fans wanted since 2014. Just a young team, full of hope, that can grow with us. Roster turnover just isn’t as fun as homegrown heroes, and the Knicks hired someone who knows that. After waiting four long years, we finally have the team that we’ve been waiting for.