The Most NY thing I have ever seen. 

I am late to the party regarding the NY Knicks. This isn’t a history lesson, but for most of my life, they have not been very good. I’ve spent more time as a Nets fan in the past few years, when KD was at his peak powers. Then, I watched it all fall away, as the Celtics swept them in Game 4 of the 2022 playoffs. It was definitely the end of an era. 

But the Knicks were just getting started. Somewhere around the time Steve Nash was fired, a man named Jalen Brunson put on a Knicks jersey. He wore MY number (11), so I paid attention.

I watched as this man elbowed a path to the basket, pushing through a canopy of tree like arms on his way to the rim. He was unlike other players, he was SERIOUS. Just the Dude a city like NY needs. Its been a lifetime since the Knicks have won an NBA championship. 

I was in the crowd outside of MSG on Monday night, and I have not seen anything like it before. New York loves basketball, and NY loves the Knicks. 

We were all crammed into the plaza near the Garden, as the crowd grew.

I don’t know what people were smoking, but it was everywhere. “Probably some shit they grew in Central Park, I don’t know what that smell is. That shit ain’t weed”, said the guy behind me. 

The Cops were nervously standing around, trying to be chill about the situation. At some point, during a commercial break, someone started throwing a Timberland boot back and forth like it was a beach ball. Fans cheered with each toss. It was the most New York thing I have ever seen. 

Mark my words- the Knicks owned the 2nd half, and were on their way to a Game 4 win. Even as Jason Tatum had an incredible game- 42 points in Game 4- he went down in the 4th quarter, an injury to his achilles. The Knicks were already up though, building on a 10 point lead as Tatum was wheeled down the back hallway in a wheelchair towards the training room. 

That footage was strange. It came out of nowhere and looked like some die hard Knicks employee stuck a Go Pro in the rafters to capture the shot- pink high tops covered in tears of defeat. (And I LOVE pink- even in sports). 

That was all the Knicks needed- soon after that, it was over. Game 4 Victory over Boston. 

Naturally, fans filled the street outside of the Garden and shut down 7th Avenue. It was like New Years Eve, but better, because it was Real New Yorkers, not some Bridge and Tunnel BS. 

Of course we ended the night at Pizza Suprema.