New York Knicks Are Back? Fans, Celebs, and Legends Celebrate the City’s Basketball Revival
Madison Square Garden erupted with joy as the New York Knicks pulled off yet another gritty comeback in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Boston Celtics. Mikal Bridges’ late-game jumper gave the Knicks a 111–104 lead, cementing what longtime broadcaster Mike Breen called the most important win in 25 years.
The Knicks went on to dismantle the Celtics in Game 5 with a 119–81 blowout, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. It’s been a long time coming for a franchise that spent two decades lost in the NBA wilderness.
From Mockery to Magic: Knicks Fans Reflect on the Journey
The transformation hasn’t gone unnoticed — especially by the faithful who stuck around through the dark years.
“Right now, it’s an incredible time in New York City and the best time ever to be a New Yorker,” said Bronx native and rap legend Fat Joe. “From 2001 to 2020, those were some painful memories. But that’s what makes you appreciate the last couple years of greatness.”
Michael Ompod, 29, remembers the bullying from Nets fans and the endless disappointment. “When I was younger, it was the team to be made fun of,” he said. “Now it just feels like something in the air is different.”
The Knicks’ loyal base has endured it all — the Isiah Thomas years, Carmelo Anthony’s wasted potential, chants for owner James Dolan to sell the team, and some truly head-scratching contracts. But the tide has turned.
A New Era Fueled by Smart Moves and Superstar Grit
The Knicks first flashed signs of life in 2021, when Julius Randle led them to a playoff berth and won Most Improved Player. But it was the 2022 signing of Jalen Brunson that changed everything. His four-year, $104 million deal was considered a steal. He’s since doubled down on his commitment, signing an extension below market value to help the front office build a winner.
That flexibility allowed the Knicks to land two-way talents like Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, and swing a major trade that brought in All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns while sending Randle and Donte DiVincenzo packing.
The result? A 51-win regular season — their best since 2013 — and a playoff run that’s quickly entering Knicks lore: comeback wins over the Celtics, a 21-0 run vs. Detroit in the first round, and clutch moments from Brunson that fans won’t soon forget.
Generations of Knicks Faithful Find New Hope
For fans like 22-year-old Terrence Lacewell, this run is more than just basketball. Sitting in the nosebleeds at MSG during Game 4, rocking a Randle jersey, Lacewell reflected on family stories of ’90s Knicks battles against Jordan and the Bulls.
“We’re so desperate, everyone is rooting for the New York team,” he said. “We all get up for a contender.”
With no major men’s pro sports titles in the city since 2012, and no Knicks championship since 1973, the city is hungry. And that hunger is pulling generations together — from Lacewell’s family in Section 420 to the courtside legends.
Spike Lee, Courtside Since the ’70s, Hopes for One More Ring
Director Spike Lee — the ultimate Knicks fan — was there, arms raised, as Bridges sealed Game 4. Reflecting on his decades of fandom, he flashed a ring that once belonged to Red Holzman, coach of the Knicks’ only titles in 1970 and 1973.
“I was at Game 7, May 8, 1970, the Willis Reed game,” Lee said. “I was 13 years old.”
Now 68, Spike might finally see history repeat itself. After years of heartbreak, the Knicks aren’t just relevant again — they’re contenders. And in New York City, that’s bigger than basketball.
