For the first time in 27 years, the New York Knicks will play in the NBA Finals. Go New York, Go New York, Go! If you know, you know!
The History
The 1999 NBA Finals made history as the first time an 8th-seeded team (the Knicks) reached the championship series. The Spurs won the series 4-1, but people forget the Knicks legend Patrick Ewing tore his Achilles and missed the Finals.
Rick Brunson, assistant coach for the Knicks and father to Jalen Brunson, played for the Knicks and was on the 1999 team. Tonight, Jalen and Rick will become the first father-son duo in NBA history to represent the same franchise on the biggest stage in basketball.
Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs have a real alien: Victor Wembanyama. The 7’4”, number one draft pick in 2023 is considered one of the best basketball players and the future face of the NBA. I mean his height alone is simply ridiculous! His wingspan covers the entire paint making him a dominant defender and it’s no surprise he leads the league in blocks. I will never understand how those skinny legs and his huge feet function.
The Spurs are a young team and are not impressive when Wemby is not on the court. But when he is in the game, he wows you with his agility and ability to shoot from a distance. But if the Knicks can wear him down, the Spurs are in trouble.
Knicks
The Knicks are a veteran team who still have a chip on their shoulder from last year’s Eastern Conference Championship loss to Detroit. And back-to-back Eastern Conference Semifinals losses in 2023 and 2024. This year, they are playing with consistency that Knicks fans haven’t seen in decades. They have one of the deepest benches in the NBA. Deuce, Robinson, Shamet, and Alvarado all make this team more ready for the moment than any team in almost 30 years.
Then you have the Knicks starting lineup who together make one of the best Knicks teams in history. Jalen Brunson (Point Guard), Mikal Bridges (Shooting Guard), OG Anunoby (Small Forward), Josh Hart (Power Forward), and Karl-Anthony Towns (Center). Haters love to say Brunson is too small, but he is the engine and captain of this team. He’s an MVP candidate for a reason and when he gets hot, he is untouchable. Hart may be the only starter who is not considered elite, but he still makes magic happen. And the chemistry of this team; on and off the court is almost unheard of in sports today.
Madison Square Garden
Celebrities who attend Knicks games in MSG are true fans. You will not see those who are sitting courtside or even in the lower bowl participating in a t-shirt gimmick in the Mecca of basketball. Instead, you will see why NYC is the fashion capital of the United States. No way they are adding a cheap t-shirt to their designer fit. Knicks fans are just different. Their fandom is louder, their loyalty is unwavering for their city, and they are deeply intertwined with NYC culture. With the last Finals championship in 1973, this fanbase is overdue for a Championship!
The lights are bright, the stakes are enormous, and legacies are waiting to be written. Let the Finals begin. Game one of the NBA Finals starts tonight at 8:30 p.m. EST on ABC. Go New York, Go New York, Go!
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