Dear 2025-26 Knicks,
With the NBA draft hours away, the championship parade over, and the memorable and clinching game 5 over a week in our review mirror, it felt like the perfect time to pen (electronically) a letter to you.
Man, what a ride it’s been. For some the ride has been just a few weeks long. So many around the world joined to root for the Knicks at different points during the playoffs because they wanted to see their partner, family, friends, and or neighbors happy. And you captured their hearts as their fandom quickly evolved from that. It went from clueless bystanders to fans that witnessed the on-court dominance and the chemistry and characters that made this team so likeable.
For others, that journey has taken place over years. They watched Kristaps Porzingis become the beacon of hope for a franchise and a city that was starving for something to believe in. And then they sat there and watched as his injury and eventual trade took all of that away in what felt like a matter of days.
And for many, it’s the last decades. Generations of embarrassing ineptitude, directionless leaders, heartbreaking losses, and foolishly convincing ourselves that the impossible was actually possible.
Regardless of how long the journey has been, though, it’s led us to you, this team, and this season. A team that was so relatable because of the way you carried yourselves and embodied the city. Like Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at the championship parade just last week, you not only won in New York City, you won like New York City. The 25-26 Knicks had their blemishes. You guys weren’t perfect. There was the 2-9 stretch during the cold and dark days of the New York winter. There were games two and three against the Hawks. Jalen Brunson, and even in your wins, there were slow starts, and plenty of stretches that made fans want to pull their hair out. But that made you guys oddly easy to root for and easy to love, kind of like a family member.
Sure, you guys annoyed us at times. Many times, actually. But amidst the very clear imperfection, there was a group of guys that made it their ultimate goal to win in and for the city. You guys sacrificed. You guys trusted and believed in each other. You guys became more than the sum of your parts. And most importantly, you guys always came through.
And you gave us THE season. A season to remember. A season to talk about for ages. A season that many can die happily knowing they got to witness and experience. And all of the trauma from the past and the frustrations from earlier were part of a journey we can now look back at and smile at. Because you guys, through balanced offense, intense defense, unrelenting will, and dramatic comebacks, rewarded us for years of patience and loyalty with the long coveted Larry O’Brien trophy
What’s interesting, though, is that for other championships I’ve witnessed, the main thing that comes to the top of my mind is the trophy itself and maybe the championship game(s). But with this one, it’s so much more than that. Media outlets will measure this championship with the usual metrics. They’ll talk about the net rating, the point differential, and the records of the teams you’ve beaten. And all of those things are nice to recognize. But for so many Knicks fans, this championship will be measured in memories. This triumph is that much sweeter because of the memories of fathers and mothers watching with their kids, because of the fans who wiped away tears after the Reggie Miller shot and the Tyrese Haliburton shot, because of the time spent believing in Michael Sweeney, Felton Spencer, Clarence Weatherspoon, Eddie House, Andy Rautins, Sergio Rodriguez, Moochie Norris, and because of everything that you guys went through.
Jalen getting overlooked. KAT losing his mother and so many other family members to COVID. OG losing both his parents and then not being able to play in the Finals when he was a Raptor. Mikal watching his 2-0 lead to Milwaukee slip through his fingers. Josh being traded multiple times. Mitch battling back from multiple injuries.
They all sucked in the moment. It hurt. But all of the heartbreak, setbacks, and doubters also made watching you guys lift the trophy that much sweeter. I’ve never wanted a championship more for any group of players.
To Jalen, the overlooked, All-NBA silent assassin and the savior of not just a franchise but a city, scratch that, entire state. To KAT, the selfless, continuously evolving big man, who proves on a nightly basis that being an elite person matters just as much as being an elite player. To OG and Mikal, the wingstop duo that continued to do the dirty work and made the team function the way it needed to. To Josh, the heart and soul of the team. To Mitch, Deuce, Landry, Jose and the bench unit that always had at least one guy ready to change the game. To Mike Brown, the head coach who came in under almost impossible circumstances, yet managed to take the team over the top with his humility, willingness to change, and collaborative attitude. Thank you.
Thank you for the countless unseen hours in hot, humid gyms in the summer. Thank you for never giving up. Thank you for a lifetime of unforgettable memories during an unforgettable year. And thank you for bringing us a feeling we had been chasing for half a century, and thought we may never get to experience.
Here’s a toast to you, a team that ended a 53-year drought and will forever be etched into history.
