Let’s Hear it for New York

Let’s Hear it for New York

The Knicks end a 53-year championship drought

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On June 13, the New York Knicks hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy, or to be specific, the NBA championship. Jalen Brunson, at only 6-foot-2, led the charge with 45 of the Knicks’ 94 points in the 94–90 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in the deciding Game Five.

Brunson joins elite company with only Michael Jordan also having 45 points in a close-out finals game.

The last time New York won an NBA championship, The Exorcist was №1 at the box office. Stevie Wonder was dominating the pop music charts with “Superstition” and “You Are the Sunshine of My Life”. The year was 1973.

No one — and I mean absolutely no one — thought the Knicks could pull this off. They were huge underdogs to the Spurs. I am ecstatic that I did not make any bets, because I would have lost all of them. I, too, heavily favored the Spurs.

Brunson was crowned Finals MVP, but he had a great deal of help — not to take anything away from Brunson. And he will definitely tell you it was an all-out team effort.

OG Anunoby is the unsung hero for the Knicks of Game Four and the series. Anunoby had a tip-in at the end of regulation to give the Knicks a one-point win in Game Four. For the series, Anunoby averaged 21 points per game and shot a little over 50 percent from three-point range.

Josh Hart, or “Josh Barkley” as they have nicknamed him, grabbed every loose ball rebound he could. Hart’s not going to lead your team in scoring, but at only 6-foot-4, he will give your team more offensive chances by chasing down rebounds.

Karl-Anthony Towns did not have a great scoring series, but he came up with timely baskets when the team needed them most. Towns also played some of the best defense of his career, something he has gotten a lot of flak for.

Towns slowed down the Spurs’ seven-foot-four center Victor Wembanyama enough to give him trouble and to catch up to the Spurs’ guards to contest their shots. Towns was impressive in the final series. He wears his emotions on his sleeves, and you can’t help but be happy for the guy.

Shooting guard Mikal Bridges and the rest of the Knicks’ supporting cast were also amazing. New York’s bench players were consistently ready to go and would rejuvenate the team when needed.

Back to Brunson, who delivered something truly special for the city of New York. Brunson’s shooting percentages won’t wow anyone, but he isn’t afraid to take the big shot with time running down in the game — which he did numerous times. Brunson definitely has that killer instinct that only a few of the all-time greats have had.

Brunson has been doubted all his life. Even after winning a college championship with Villanova, he was selected in the second round, thirty-third overall, in the 2018 NBA Draft.

The Dallas Mavericks gave up on him too early, letting him walk to the Knicks for virtually nothing. The Knicks capitalized on this and, of course, are happy with the results this season.

The Mavericks really gave up early both on Brunson and Luka Doncìc. As a Los Angeles Lakers fan, I welcomed Luka with open arms.

Brunson and the Knicks are now enjoying their media run on TV and will soon be parading in New York!

This team has a lot of great characters. It’s hard not to be happy for all of them.

Almost 20 years after his last finals appearance as a head coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Mike Brown captured his first championship as a head coach. He’s won as an assistant coach with the Warriors, but this one is sweeter.

When the Knicks were tied 2–2 with the Atlanta Hawks in the first round, there were actually reports that unless Brown made it to the finals, he would be fired. Well, he won the championship, so take that, Brown haters.

I’m happy for the city of New York and the Knicks. They made it to the finals in 1999 against the Spurs, but were unable to win it that year.

Will the Knicks start a dynasty?

Probably not.

No one on the team will admit this, but this championship certainly has the potential to last for many years. It’s just something that doesn’t happen often.

For a team like the Lakers or Boston Celtics, it’s unacceptable not to win a championship every few years, but the Knicks and their fans can enjoy this one for a long time.

Congratulations, New York Knickerbockers!

Thank you for reading!