The Big Lead

The Athletic's James L. Edwards leaving Pistons beat to cover Knicks

By Joe Lago

May 8, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) celebrates in the fourth quarter after scoring against the Indiana Pacers during game two of the second round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
May 8, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) celebrates in the fourth quarter after scoring against the Indiana Pacers during game two of the second round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
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New York Knicks fans who subscribe to The Athletic will have a new beat writer covering the team this season.

On Monday, James L. Edwards announced on X that he will be leaving his role as Detroit Pistons beat writer and moving to New York to cover Jalen Brunson and the Knicks.

Edwards had been The Athletic's Pistons beat writer for seven years. The Michigan native called it a "tough decision."

RELATED: Longtime Bay Area columnist Tim Kawakami moving on from The Athletic

In his X thread, Edwards credited Pistons fans for helping him get "opportunities like this."

"Why leave now, you ask? Well, if I was ever going to cover another team, it needed to make sense and New York is one of the few places on Earth that rivals Detroit sports passion," Edwards wrote. "This is the most exciting time for Knicks fans in decades. Hard for me to pass this up."

Last season, the Knicks revival continued under head coach Tom Thibodeau, finishing second in the Eastern Conference at 50-32. Their playoff run abruptly ended in the East semifinals in a seven-game series loss to the Indiana Pacers.

Fred Katz, The Athletic's previous Knicks beat reporter, has moved into a national role as senior NBA writer. He announced his promotion Monday on X and gave Edwards a shout-out.

"Knicks fans will be excited to know the great James L. Edwards is taking over the Knicks beat for us," Katz wrote.

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