The NBA season is back. And so another season of New York Knicks is underway. Although that may not seem to be great news for the New York faithful, considering the current state of all of the Metropolitan area sports teams across the four major sports, especially those with a fond, not so pleasant memories of the last six years of Knickerbocker basketball–but bare with me, this year could be different.

This season the Knicks, while still potentially being a lottery team, can show the world that they might be on the right path in rebuilding. Owning top 10 draft picks in three out of the last four years, the Knicks drafted promising talent in Kristaps Porzingis (2015), Frank Ntilikina (2017) and Kevin Knox in this past June’s draft.

Along with those young draft picks, New York made a couple moves this offseason acquiring players like Mario Hezonja, Noah Vonleh and Emmanuel Mudiay. While the bar is set low for the Knicks–and rightfully so, given the organizations downward spiral throughout the back half of this decade, New York has built up one of the youngest teams in the NBA. If you are going to rebuild, why not start with young players?

The starting lineup will consist of guards Trey Burke and  Frank Ntilikina, forwards, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Lance Thomas along with center Enes Kanter.

In their first action of the season at Madison Square Garden, a 126-107 rout of the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night, New York showcased some of their young talent as Hardaway Jr. racked up an impressive 31 points, while undrafted rookie Alonzo Trier put up 15 points and new additions Mario Hezonja and Noah Vonleh had double digit point totals.

To call it what it is, New York’s opening night win is slightly diluted because of the fact that they played the Hawks. But there were plenty of positives to take away from the game–new players got to show the fans what they have to offer, while the team as a whole was able to display  some sharp defensive skills as they ultimately continue to build chemistry together.

Bottom line, no one is expecting much from the Knicks this season. The Knicks themselves, deep down, might not be expecting much either. But this season could show the world that they aren’t sitting back and doing nothing. They are rebuilding and seem to be on the right track. Now they just have to prove it.

Who knows? With another potential lottery pick next year, a season of experience for some of the new players and the mysterious atmosphere of free agency, New York might be contending sooner rather than later.