The New York Knicks had the worst record in the NBA last season at 17-65. Though they didn’t win the lottery, they were able to draft highly touted prospect R.J. Barrett with the third overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Beyond that, the team made a flurry of changes to its roster this offseason by using its cache of cap space to acquire various players via free agency. Now, with this new core for the 2019-20 season, two of its players believe the Knicks could be a “very good defensive team” next season.

Per Marc Berman of the New York Post, Elfrid Payton and Frank Ntilikina both believe the Knicks have a strong group of defenders.

“I think we have the potential to be a very good defensive team,’’ Payton said. “I definitely think we have the tools at every position to be a great defense.”

Indeed, Barrett showed some defensive chops in his freshman season at Duke and Second Team All-Rookie member Mitchell Robinson was one of the best defensive centers in the game last year.

Ntilikina chimed in with this tidbit about the team’s defense: “All my teammates, we pay a lot of attention at pressuring the ball on defense and not letting the opposing team be comfortable offensively. Guys picking up full-court, guys being physical and being competitive. They play with a chip on their shoulder and it will help us defensively.”

Time will tell about the Knicks’ defense, but it seems two of their guards believe in the team.