It has been quite the surprising year so far for the New York Knicks in the first year of the Tom Thibodeau era. The Knicks are a surprising 20-20 and currently in 7th place in the Eastern Conference. For a reference point, the Knicks total over / under for wins this year was set at 23.5 by the oddsmakers. They showed so much promise last night to Stephen A. Smith that he got “emotional” on ESPN's First Take.

Obviously, Stephen A. is playing up the stick with the exaggerated emotional part. But what he said is true.

The Knicks have been playing with an edge this season under Thibodeau. Julius Randle has been unlocked, making his first all-star appearance this year. The Knicks boast the No. 1 scoring defense in the entire league, giving up just 105.3 points per game to the opposition. They have the number one defensive three-point field goal percentage and they're doing it with a team that doesn't have a superstar.

What Leon Rose, Thibodeau, and the rest of the front office have been able to piece together this year has been impressive so far.

Immanuel Quickley looks like a future star and a steal of a late first-round pick. RJ Barrett has taken his game and specifically his shooting, to the next level. And the Knicks are holding their own against top-tier competition like they did with the Brooklyn Nets last night. Sure they lost and there are no moral victories, but the Knicks are clearly on the up-tick.

Cry away Stephen A., cry away. The future appears to be bright at Madison Square Garden as the Knicks may finally be building something.