An Ode to the Knicks, From a New Yorker

Growing up in New York City is simply iconic—especially now. My voice is somewhat hoarse, I've been wearing blue and orange for nearly a week straight, I'm never home, and the sun seems to be shining especially brightly these days—all signs of one thing. The Knicks have just won the National Basketball Association’s Championship for the first time since 1973 (yeah, 53 years). Though I’ve always been proud to be a born-and-raised New Yorker, this historic moment has given that pride an entirely new meaning. 

I wouldn’t credit myself as a major sports fan, but I’ve always had respect for them, especially basketball. My father would often turn on the game while unwinding after church-filled Sundays in our East 86th Street Brooklyn apartment, and my brother and I would fall asleep to the sounds of ESPN commentators and roaring fans. I even played basketball in middle school as a way to connect with my friend, who was also Jamaican and one of the other few Black girls at our predominantly white Catholic school. And as soon as I was old enough (in my eyes), I would spend days binging ‘90s movies like He Got Game, Above the Rim, and Love and Basketball, further expanding my understanding of the sport’s significance to my city and community. I’ve always loved basketball, and still do. 

After a family dinner last month, my cousins and I gave in to our inner children, playing outside until sunset—reminiscent of the New York summers that shaped who we are. I ran for my cousin’s old basketball, and it immediately sparked something in me. There I was, almost halfway to 27, still finding joy in bouncing a faded Spalding ball in the front yard under cotton-candy skies. Maybe it was nostalgic dopamine—or maybe a hint of the joy our city was about to feel.

Just a couple of weeks later, that euphoria would sweep through all 8.5 million of us New Yorkers, as the Knicks sealed the win against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. The day before, two rainbows cascaded over the city. Stores across New York were sold out of Knicks gear. By 5 p.m., the streets were already packed as we headed to watch parties and Knicks-centered escapades across nearly every borough. Though the Knicks’ fate as champions was still unknown, it’s almost as if we all knew this would be the last game and that they would win. Our proclamations of “Knicks in 5,” our prayers, and our hope worked. 

My sister, brother, and I screamed our heads off with thousands of other fans on a Fort Greene corner. From the pier, we watched the Empire State Building light up Knicks orange and blue, while waves and honks from fellow fans carried us until 2 a.m.—an experience forever etched in my memory, and a remarkable start to a New York summer.

Of course, this win was—and always will be—monumental for many reasons. Jalen Brunson, now the team's MVP, embodies the franchise's sense of legacy, especially considering that his father came close to winning with the team in the 1999 Eastern Conference Finals. Karl-Anthony Towns played in honor of his mother's memory, and with this victory, he achieved that tribute and more. OG Anunoby delivered an iconic tip-in that secured Game 4 of the series. And Josh Hart's unparalleled rebounding, relentless hustle, and team-first mentality helped define the team's success. The list goes on, but for us real New Yorkers off the court, this win is everything. 

The Knicks’ journey to this remarkable feat couldn’t have been more New York. They were on a roll before the Game 3 loss that sent the city into a brief shock. Yet despite the Spurs’ physical, taunting style of play, the team didn’t stay down. They came back in the next game after trailing by 29 points in the third quarter—a moment when they could have easily been written off. OG’s game-winning shot captured the team’s resilience and determination. They didn’t let past mistakes define what would become their destiny as champions.

Much like what it means to be born, raised, and live in New York—it’s far from easy, but somehow always worth it. Living here will make you feel happy, sad, proud, regretful, and hopeful, often all at once. The Knicks moved through the same emotions throughout this series: believing when the future was uncertain, showing up after being counted out, and staying locked in until victory came. This win will always matter far beyond the court. It wasn’t just the Knicks who won—New York did.

Frank Sinatra’s timeless song, Theme From New York, New York, puts it best: “If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere.” But at a time like this, why would you want to make it anywhere else?

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory [as conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 15:57 {AMP}

Much love and peace,

-Nay.