Members of the New York Knicks front office told players during a team meeting that they expected the team to make the playoffs this season, sources told Ian Begley of SNY.

The front office also told players entering free agency in 2020 that they would be judged on the team's win-loss record as opposed to individual stats.

The team's early season struggles lead to the firing of David Fizdale. 

Steve Mills and Scott Perry met with players in the days leading up to David Fizdale's firing to discuss why the team was struggling. Fizdale's performance was brought up in those meetings, according to SNY.

Knicks players held a players-only meeting the day after a blowout loss to the Nuggets to discuss the need to improve their play in order to save Fizdale's job. Players were reportedly optimistic that they could turn their performance around under Fizdale.

Fizdale would be fired later that day following practice.