Even now, for those of us that saw the New York Knicks ch’ip coming, it on some level is still hard to believe this fact. For so long, the Knicks have been irrelevant.
With perhaps, the reason being James Dolan. His being so out of touch with the desires of his own fanbase, is the clear red flag that points to this.
How else do you take the towering advantage of being able to call the place with its unique skyline of skyscrapers, home. Somewhere that historically, is the embodiment of the American dream. A place that is home to countless powerful corporations (in the media and otherwise). That could and should, serve as an unrefusable attraction to free agents.
James Dolan, The Cause Of The Knicks Drought Thus Far?
Moreover, New York city is the Mecca of basketball. With basketball courts found throughout the city, signifying the popularity of the sport, from a participation stand point.
In addition to this, New York is one of the very best cities in America for basketball at the high school and collegiate level. Furthermore, in addition to New York’s streetball, high school and college basketball credentials.
New York City lastly, has a long line of NBA players that call it home. Players that include the likes of Michael Jordan (born in Brooklyn) Dr. J, but also Streetball Legends like Pee Wee Kirkland and Booger Smith (to name a couple).
Factor all of this together and a rich picture of why NYC is considered the mecca of basketball is produced.
However, this rich basketball culture and history that is New York’s is clearly in stark contrast to the success of the Knicks, at the NBA level. Arguably, this is James Dolan’s fault.
The main critique of James Dolan, is the fact that New York City has for the most part, failed to live up to its potential as a desirable market for free agents. Instead, New York is a place that most top free agents avoid.
Which, directly calls into question New York’s mecca credentials at the NBA level and by extension James’ ownership credentials.
However, to give James Dolan his due, he was right about hiring Mike Brown.
Moreover, he has apologized to Knicks fans and expressed hope that the next Knicks ring, will be happening sooner rather than later.
With both the Spurs and the Knicks having just played one of the closest (Top 5), in NBA Finals history. (Despite the 4-1 outcome and the series only lasting 5 games).
The New York Knicks, Have Started A New Legacy.
It is an exciting prospect for NBA fans to get to potentially experience both franchises, running it back again next year. It will be intriguing to see how the NBA finals experience, contributes to the growth of both of these two exceptional rosters.
Most importantly, who ultimately will have gained the most from this NBA finals series in the long run? Is it the San Antonio Spurs who will eventually prove to have learned the most from getting it wrong this time around? Or will the New York Knicks prove to have come too far down the road of winning, to turn back?
After all, this is the same group of players that almost went unbeaten in the NBA finals. To recap, the New York Knicks never lost a game from round two of the playoffs, until game 4 of the NBA finals.
Speaking of winning and losing, can we give De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama a break? NBA fans seem to want to paint the colors of their characters with this finals loss when, losing is precisely how winning is done.
The New York Knicks Win Was More Gritty Than Pretty, NYC Style.
We literally just saw Karl Anthony Towns get it done in arguably the ugliest manner possible. Going from NBA finals MVP candidate to, just grab as many rebounds as you can to help your team win.
Winning, is sometimes ugly, sometimes something that we only just about achieve. O.G. Anunoby just proved that to us with his historic putback.
We also just saw the referees and Adam Silver no less, take some L’s in the finals as far as officiating and fan on fan violence. However, despite these L’s, nobody is coming for their characters, like they’re coming for Wemby’s and De’Aaron’s.
However, here’s a hot take for the haters: if Greg Popovich was still coaching the Spurs, arguably the Spurs come away with that championship instead of the Knicks.
Mistakes is what cost the Spurs this championship. However, ultimately the Spurs made those mistakes as a team. Moreover, even with all of those mistakes, the Spurs were consistently close to beating the Championship winning Knicks, every single game.
Arguably, breaking that up and throwing away all that the Spurs know they have, for newer unproven pieces, would be a mistake. Particularly because redemption, is one of the best sources of motivation out there.
Maybe, just maybe the best move the Spurs can make is to bet on their chemistry and growth, like the New York Knicks just did?
Put Some Respect On Jalen Brunson’s Name.
Lastly, can we talk about Finals MVP Jalen Brunson?
Truth be told, from a Caribbean standpoint, all we do is win, is the mood. As Finals MVP Jalen Brunson has Caribbean roots, by way of Jamaica. However, what is crystal clear at this point is that Jalen Brunson is definitely deserving of his Finals MVP win.
Standing at just 6 foot 2 inches. Jalen was clearly the Knicks most reliable source of offensive productivity. That stood head and shoulders above what his fellow Knicks teammates were able to produce.
Now to be clear, the New York Knicks needed each other to get this win done. It was a team effort that enabled the Knicks to win it all. KAT’s rebounding, helped ensure that the Knick’s won. OG Anunoby also had moments where he looked like an MVP.
Jose Alvarado, Josh Hart, Mitchell Robinson and every single Knick, all helped to make sure that the Knicks got this win. However, the biggest and most consistent piece of the Knicks’ offense was the so called “little” guy, Jalen Brunson.
His Finals MVP performance is literally comparable to that of Michael Jordan’s. It will live forever in the memories of all Knicks fans and it was a thing of epic beauty.
Congratulations to the Knicks, James Dolan, the coaching staff, the fans, of course the players and the city as a whole.
What do you say we run it all back and do it all again next year?
However, before all of that, please thoroughly enjoy this one?
