In Leon We Trust

When Leon Rose decided to move on from Tom Thibodeau last June, he had no replacement for him. He attempted to interview several candidates, including Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks, but was denied permission each time. Critics jumped all over him. How could he fire the franchise's most successful head coach since Jeff Van Gundy and not have a successor lined up?

One month later, Rose finally found his man; a coach that had been fired four times in his career, twice by the same organization. Again, his critics pounced. Well, we all know what happened. Mike Brown, in his first season, lead the Knicks to their first title since 1973. So much for not having a Plan B.

When the Boston Celtics signed Mitchell Robinson to a three-year contract at $15.6 million per on the first day of free agency, the critics in the cheap seats were at it again. How could Rose let this happen? Why couldn't the Knicks just go over the second apron to re-sign him? Once again, no Plan B.

It took Rose less than three days to find Robinson's replacement. Like Mike Brown a year ago, Andre Drummond was not his first choice. According to Chris Haynes, Rose had his sites set on Yves Missi of the New Orleans Pelicans, but was rejected "multiple times." Apparently, they view him as a "vital core" player. I wasn't aware that a 26 win team had vital core players.

But regardless of whether Drummond was Rose's first choice or his fourth, the point is he was the best option out there. And if we're being honest with ourselves, the slash line between the two men is very close. How close? Take a look see:

Robinson: 60 GP / 19.6 MP / 5.7 PPG / 8.8 TRB / 1.2 Blk / 0.9 AST / 41 FT% / $15.6m 

Drummond: 63 GP / 19.5 MP / 6.4 PPG / 8.4 TRB / 0.8 Blk / 1.3 AST / 63 FT% / $2.45m

You tell me, if you were Leon Rose, which player would you have signed? If you still prefer Robinson, I seriously don't know what slash line you're looking at. Drummond isn't just the better value; he's the better player. One thing's for certain: the Knicks won't have to worry about "Hack-a-Mitch" anymore. And with the money Rose saved by signing Drummond, he can now re-sign Jordan Clarkson and maybe even sign Kevon Looney. How's that for a Plan B?

You don't run an organization with your heart, you run it with your head. Even if James Dolan had been willing to go over the second apron, Rose would've been a fool to do so, especially for a player who doesn't play back-to-back games, can't hit free throws, and in the postseason, allowed Onyeka Okongwu, Joel Embiid, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and Victor Wembanyama to shoot 57 percent against him. You don't pay someone like that $15.6 million; you thank him for his service and send him on his way. If anything, the Celtics did the Knicks a huge favor. 

That's the way Rose has rolled ever since he arrived in New York six years ago. His critics don't always understand him; the media doesn't always understand him; sometimes his own players don't always understand him. It may seem at times like he's flying by the seat of his pants, but the fact is he never does anything without having a plan A, B, C or D ready to go.

Leon Rose is the principal reason why the Knicks won the NBA championship this past season, and he's the principal reason why they should be considered the favorites to repeat going into this season. Yes, I realize Jalen Brunson carried them on his back, especially in game five of the finals, but it was Rose who brought Brunson to New York and it was Rose who gave him the supporting cast he needed to complete the job.

The man knows what he's doing. Leave him alone and let him cook. 

Drury's Last Stand?

If there were any doubts about whether the New York Rangers were rebuilding or retooling, they were  thoroughly put to rest yesterday. On the first day of free agency, Chris Drury sent a very loud and clear message to the fanbase: this is a retool.

Coming off arguably his best draft since he was hired, Drury went to work immediately. At first, it looked like a typical free agency day for Drury; nothing spectacular. And then it got real interesting. In all, Drury made nine transactions. Here they are in order: 

1. He acquired goaltender Joonas Korpisalao from the Boston Bruins for forward Kalle Vaisanen and a 2028 4th round pick. The Ottawa Senators retained $1 million of Korpisalao's $4 million salary as part of an earlier trade with the Bruins.

2. He then signed Joseph Valeno to a one year $1.2 million contract that he can unload at the trade deadline if it doesn't work out.

3. Next up, he signed Oliver Bjorkstrand to another one year contract at $4.5 million. 

4 & 5.. To replenish Hartford, he signed career AHLers Marc Del Gaizo and Glenn Gawdin to two-year, two-way contracts worth $875k AAV a piece. 

Then came the two blockbusters:

6. Drury traded Vincent Trocheck to the Utah Mammoth for Utah's 2024 1st round pick Cole Beaudoin, a conditional 2027 3rd rounder and defenseman Sean Durzi. Beaudoin was the high draft pick Drury was after, and Durzi is a right-handed defenseman who had an excellent season for Utah last year.

7. Drury then traded a 2030 top 10 protected first round pick for defenseman Marcus Pettersson. Pettersson played for Mike Sullivan in Pittsburgh years ago, and I have no doubt that factored into Drury's decision to acquire him. This trade was actually announced before the Trocheck deal but took longer to finalize because Pettersson has a no move clause. 

8. Next up, in what can only be described as a textbook example of addition by subtraction, Drury traded Will Borgen to the Bruins for a 2027 2nd round pick and a conditional 2028 3rd rounder. A used puck bag would've sufficed, so give Drury high marks for finding someone willing to take Borgen and his $4.1 million cap hit off his hands.

9. Rounding out the transactions, this morning, Drury signed Dennis Cholowski, another career AHLer, to a two-year, two-way contract. 

Overall, I'd give him a B+. He unloaded Borgen, improved his defensive pairings, but weakened his center depth. In Pettersson, he acquired a player who's 30 years old and still has five years left on his contract. Like the J.T. Miller trade he made in 2025, this has the potential of blowing up in Drury's face.

Look, are the Rangers better now than they were before the Draft? Yes. Have they improved themselves enough to make the playoffs? Maybe.

But here's my concern. Let's say the Rangers sneak in as a wild card this season. Let's be optimistic and say they upset the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round. Then what? Does anybody seriously believe this team can win the Stanley Cup? Me neither.

And that brings me to the sixty-four thousand dollar question. What's the plan? Is this the start of another three-year window followed by consecutive seasons without making the playoffs? How many more times do we have to ride this sick roller coaster? I was 33 the last time this franchise won the Stanley Cup. I was hoping to see one more before I die.

That's the biggest problem I have with Drury. He keeps making the same mistakes over and over again. Name one time when he didn't take a short cut. From the moment he got the job, he's seemed more interested in keeping it than doing the hard work required to win a championship. Case in point: J.T. Miller. Rather than admit he made a mistake and buy out his contract, he's determined to keep him, no matter how badly his skills have deteriorated. The signing of Bjorkstrand is another case in point. Yes, he's a good player, but at this stage of his career he's basically a bottom six forward. How much you wanna bet Sullivan puts him on the second line, thus taking a spot away from a younger player?

Take a good look at the job Leon Rose has done with the Knicks. In six years he transformed one of the worst franchises in professional sports into NBA champions. And he did that without taking a single short cut; by making the tough decisions that needed to be made; by thinking long term instead of short term; and while working for the same boss Drury reports to: James Dolan. Don't tell me you can't succeed with a demanding owner.

There's a reason why the Rangers have won only one Stanley Cup since World War II. They just haven't been good enough to win another. With Chris Drury at the helm, that isn't likely to change anytime soon.

Drury Goes 4 for 4 on Draft Night

As you might've surmised, I haven't been writing much about the Rangers lately. In fact, this is only my third piece on them since Thanksgiving. You can hardly blame me, what with the Knicks having their best season in over five decades.

It's been a rough couple of years for Chris Drury. From the heights of winning the President's trophy to the depths of consecutive seasons without making the playoffs, he's earned every bit of grief that's come his way. But as critical as I've been of him, I do believe in giving credit where credit is due. 

Going into the 2026 NHL Draft, the pressure on Drury was enormous. He had two picks in the first round: the 5th and 26th; he had a center he was looking to unload; another center he had his eye on; a boatload of cap space with a shopping list; and a fanbase that was growing increasingly frustrated at the constant failures and the tired excuses. To be perfectly honest, I wasn't expecting much.

How wrong I was. Maybe it was the carryover effect from Leon Rose, but Drury had one his best nights of his tenure as President and GM. 

It began with a bombshell trade: The Rangers acquired the rights to Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for the 26th and 92nd picks in this year's draft and a top 10 protected first rounder in 2028. Dorofeyev led the Golden Knights in goals scored the last two season with 37 and 35 respectively, but he was an RFA and Vegas didn't have the cap space to re-sign him. That Drury was able to land him without giving up the better of his two first round picks was quite a feather in his cap.

The night was just getting started, however. With the 5th pick, he chose Alberts Smits, a burly left-handed defenseman who, at the age young age of 18, played for Team Latvia in the Olympics. Though fans were hoping for Carsons Carels and Chase Reid - both of whom have higher ceilings - Drury went with the player a majority of scouts say is NHL ready. I would not be at all surprised if he plays opening night on the second pairing.

But you know the old saying: the best trades are the ones you don't make. The day before the draft, Frank Seravalli tweeted that the Rangers were one of two teams that were in negotiation with the Anaheim Ducks for the services of Mason McTavish. It's no secret that McTavish had been on Drury's radar for quite some time. If history was any indicator, most of us were fearing the worst. The Rangers were about to overpay for a good, but hardly elite, center. When news broke that the Ducks had traded McTavish to the St. Louis Blues for two first round picks, the sighs of relief could be heard from 8th Avenue to the Van Wyck.

Last but not least, there's Vincent Trocheck. Drury has been looking to move the second-line center since before the trade deadline, but his asking price has been a first round pick and a high-level prospect. When he didn't get what he was looking for, rather than sell low, he opted to keep him and wait until the Draft to try again. Like the McTavish situation, the fear was that Drury would panic, but damn if he didn't surprise us again. I said it back in March, and I'll say it agin: it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if Trocheck was still on the roster next season. At $5.6 million, he has a very manageable cap hit, and he's still capable of putting up 60 points. There's no need to move him just for the sake of moving him. Drury undoubtedly feels the same way. Good for him.

Well, what'd ya know? Four opportunities to do the right thing and Drury went four for four. Can dogs and cats sleeping together be far behind. I haven't said this in a while, but well done.

Now before we get too far ahead of ourselves, it's important to keep in mind that even with the addition of Dorofeyev this is still not a playoff team. Whether Drury trades Trocheck or not, we still don't know how good Gabe Perrault is; or whether Alexis Lafreniere's last 20 games of the regular season was the real deal or just a mirage; or whether JT Miller has anything left in the tank; or whether anyone other than Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov can play defense.

If this is indeed a retool, it's far from complete. There's still a lot more work that needs to be done. The good news is that after locking up Dorofeyev to a 7 year x $11 million AAV contract, Drury has $15 million in available cap space to work with; the most he's had since he was hired in 2021. 

If he's smart, he'll put it to good use. 

Second Aprons for Dummies

Far be it from me to defend James Dolan. Since he assumed ownership of the Knicks and Rangers in 1999, both franchises have basically spun their wheels. The Rangers missed the playoffs 12 out of 27 seasons; the Knicks, until the arrival of Leon Rose, made the playoffs three times from 2001 to 2020. Indeed, the best decision Dolan ever made in his entire life was to hire Rose to run the Knicks organization. Trust me, it's easy to despise this man.

But the flack he's taking over his comments on WFAN that the Knicks would not go over the second apron is undeserved and totally uncalled for. First off, I doubt if Dolan even knows what an apron is; if you think he does, you're giving him way too much credit. Remember, this was the same guy who thought Phil Jackson and Isaiah Thomas were capable of running his team when even a neophyte could tell they were in over their heads. Everything he knows about basketball could probably fit on the back of a fortune cookie.

No, the decision to stay under the second apron came from Rose, and not because he was worried about the extra money his boss might have to dole out. The man shits money the way a sugar addict downs jelly beans. The fact is there are profound ramifications for going over the second apron. Before I list what they are, a brief history is in order.

The apron system was enacted in July of 2023 and went into effect in the '24 offseason. There are two aprons: the first and the second. The first apron acts as a sort of luxury tax trigger. While there are some penalties, they are not too severe. Most teams in the NBA have, at one time or another, gone over it. 

The second apron, however, is where the shit hits the fan. It's the league's way of saying you fucked up and now there's a price to be paid. These are the penalties for going over the second apron:

1. No salary aggregation. That means teams cannot combine salaries in order to acquire a player. In other words, no two for ones.

2. No sign and trades. Pretty much self explanatory. 

3. No cash in trades. Teams are prohibited from including cash in any trade.

4. No mid-level exceptions. Teams can only sign free agents to minimum contracts.

5. No buy-out signings. This applies to players who made more than the mid-level exception in their previous salary.

6. Frozen draft picks. First round picks that are seven years out cannot be traded.

Basically, teams that go into the second apron can only do the following things: 1. sign their own draft picks; 2. sign their own free agents; and 3. sign other teams free agents to minimum contracts. That's it. 

Over the last three seasons, seven teams have gone over the second apron: the Boston Celtics (2024-25); the Phoenix Suns (2024-25 & 2025-26); the Minnesota Timberwolves (2024-25); the Milwaukee Bucks (2024-25); the Cleveland Cavaliers (2025-26); the Golden State Warriors (2023-24 transition phase); and the Los Angeles Clippers (2023-24 transition phase). Of those teams, only the Cavs are still over the second apron, though the Oklahoma City Thunder are currently flirting with it.

Why have so few teams gone over the second apron? Because it's the closest thing to purgatory on Earth for a sports franchise, that's why. Leon Rose has come close twice, but resisted crossing that threshold both times. There's no indication that the third time will be any different. Just the opposite, in fact. During the NBA draft, Rose traded his first round pick for five second round picks, then traded back in the second round. Those are not the moves of a man who plans on going over the second apron; they are the moves of a man who is doing everything humanly possible to stay under it.

Throughout his tenure as President and GM of the Knicks, Rose has had pretty much free reign to run the basketball operations as he sees fit, and Dolan, for his part, has gone along with it. Anybody who thinks that the decision to stay under the second apron was driven by money hasn't been paying attention. Rose knows more about the nuances of cap management and salary negotiations than anyone in the sport. He should; he was one of the most successful agents before coming to New York. The last thing he would do is box himself in; which is what going over the second apron would do. The man built a championship roster; you think he doesn't know how to replace a couple of bench players?

For fuck's sake, grow up. 

Look, Mitchell Robinson was a valuable member of this team, but Bill Russell he wasn't. Rose will find a suitable replacement for him, and probably for less money. Landry Shamet, likewise, played an integral role coming off the bench, but if he chooses to leave, it won't be the end of the world. The Knicks starting five is still, overall, the best in the NBA. I trust that Rose and his staff will be able to assemble a nine-man rotation for Mike Brown capable of defending the title in time for the season opener.

If nothing else, he's earned the benefit of the doubt. 

Winning Changes Everything

No sooner had the New York Knicks parade down the Canyon of Heroes concluded than the focus turned from celebration to concern over whether they could keep their roster together for next season. Unlike players, GMs have no offseason. With James Dolan making it clear that the team would not go into the second apron, Leon Rose was faced with a basic arithmetic problem. He has $16.9 million in available cap space and only nine players signed. The NBA requires each team to carry a minimum of 14. How to divide five into 16, that is the question.

One of those five players is none other than Mitchell Robinson, the center whose rebound off a missed free throw in game five helped seal the Knicks first title in 53 years. Last season, Mitch made just a shade under $13 million. The prevailing view is that he's looking for a pay raise. Now you see the dilemma.

Heading into the NBA Draft, the Knicks had picks 24, 31 and 55. Pick 24 was a first rounder and carried a $3.3 million cap reserve, meaning if Rose had taken a player with that pick, that reserve would've gone immediately against the team's salary cap. $16.9 million minus $3.3 million leaves $13.6 million. Rose couldn't let that happen, so he made a series of moves that surprised even his biggest supporters. 

First he traded pick 24 to the Lakers for pick 25 and cash. He then used that pick to select Sergio Da Larrea from Spain in what wold've been a draft and stash maneuver that the NBA allows teams to get away with to avoid a cap hit. Then he traded Da Larrea to the Mavs for pick 30, which turned out to be Koa Peat and two future second-round picks. Peat was then traded to the Suns for pick 47 in this draft and two future second rounders.

So to sum up, in a little less than 20 minutes, Rose turned his 24th pick, which he never had any attention of keeping, into five second-round picks, one of which is number 47. And he was able to do this with every team in the NBA knowing full well that he had a cap problem. Don't ever play poker or chess with this man. You'll lose everything you own.

So what does Rose do tonight? Does he trade all three of his picks? Does he trade two and keep one? That all depends on what the demand is. It is almost a given that he will trade pick 31 for more future draft capital. But he could use his 47th pick to draft Robinson's replacement.

Let's face it, while Mitch is a fan favorite and an excellent rebounder, the man can't hit a free throw to save his life. Seriously, this guy makes Ben Simmons look like Kareem. Last season, he shot 41 percent from the free-throw line; 29 percent in the postseason. Every team in the NBA employs the hack-a-Mitch tactic. It's not a question of if they use it but when. It's hard to imagine there isn't a center in this draft who could do better for considerably less money.

One of those centers is Ugonna Onyenso from Virginia. He has a 7-5 wing span and is considered an excellent rim protector. ESPN's mock draft has him going to the Magic at 46. If he's there at 47, Rose should definitely take him. The rookie cap hit for a second-round pick is $1.362 million. That's $11.6 million less than Robinson made last season. The thing fans need to keep in mind is that this isn't a buffet, it's a garage sale, and Rose is under no obligation to pick anyone. 

Regardless of whether the Knicks draft a center in the second round or go the free agency rout, it's safe to say that Robinson has played his last game as a Knick. That's the advantage of winning; it gives you the option of thinking long term instead of short term. Had the Knicks lost to the Spurs in the finals, Rose might be tempted to try and convince Dolan to run it back. He doesn't have to do that now. He knows his core is intact. He can fill out the roster anyway he likes.

To a certain extent he's already doing that. Just hours before the draft, Shams Charania reported that the Knicks had re-signed Mohammed Diawara to a four year extension believed to be just over $10 million. At 6-9, Diawara looks like a young Pascal Siakam. It was a savvy move by Rose to lock him up to a team-friendly deal. I expect he will get more playing time next season. Another player who could see more minutes next season is Tyler Kolek, especially if the Knicks lose Landry Shamet in free agency. And then there's last season's free agent pickup, Jose Alvarado. He has a $4.5 million player option. I expect he will opt out and sign a multi-year extension soon. It's nice having options, isn't it?

To quote Mel Brooks, "It's good to be the king." The Knicks are the kings of the NBA.

Long live the kings. 

Where Jalen Brunson Ranks in the Pantheon of Clutch New York Athletes

As I was watching Jalen Brunson address the crowd at the Knicks parade, I couldn't help but notice an air of vindication in his words. Yes, he thanked James Dolan and the front office for believing in him; his teammates for giving him the confidence; the coaching staff and trainers; and of course the fans.

But it was what he said in closing that resonated most with the two million or more fans who turned out to watch the parade live and the millions more who tuned in to watch it on TV.

"There's a lot of people that have a lot of negative stuff to say. There's a lot of people who have a lot of opinions. But when you prove them wrong, you really don't have to say shit to them. Nah, they don't deserve it. Appreciate y'all. Thank you."

That's about as close to saying "fuck you" as Brunson is capable of. But if ever there was someone who was entitled to say "fuck you" to his detractors, it would be Brunson. Since his arrival on Broadway, this man has endured every kind of slight imaginable.

One of those slights came at the hands of a certain person whose name I shall not bother to mention here. As Brunson said, she doesn't deserve it. But for those who need a reminder, the incident occurred two years ago. This individual made it a point to say Brunson was too small and was "not a dude," whatever the fuck that means. She then went on to explain that since John Stockton and Allen Iverson didn't win, and they were small, that meant Brunson couldn't win either.

For those who actually know a thing or two about basketball, and who also know what the word context means, allow me to turn back the clock a bit. Stockton was a point guard who played for the Utah Jazz from 1984 to 2003. The Jazz went to two consecutive NBA finals in '97 and '98, where they unfortunately met up with the Chicago Bulls, who just happened to be working on their second three-peat. Stockton and Karl Malone played their hearts out, but they couldn't stop Micheal Jordan and the Bulls. They lost both series 4-2.

Like Stockton, Iverson was a point guard who played for the Philadelphia 76ers from 1996 to 2010. In 2001, the Sixers advanced to the finals, where they met up with the Los Angeles Lakers, who were also in the middle of going for a three-peat. That Lakers team had Shaquille O'Neil and Kobe Bryant on it. The Sixers were valiant but the Lakers were too much for them. They lost 4-1. Ironically, the only game LA lost that whole postseason was against Philly in the finals.

My point is Stockton and Iverson's size had absolutely nothing to do with them not winning a title. Their teams just happen to lose to two of the most dominant basketball dynasties of the last 30 years. There's no shame in admitting that, nor should there be. If Stockton and Iverson had been four inches taller, the results would've been the same. Iverson, in fact, averaged 33 points per game against the Lakers in that series.

Making general statements about an athlete's size as a bar against winning is the sort of thing trolls on social media do; it's not the sort of thing people who hold responsible positions in the media should do, and whether or not she apologizes, I hope the next time someone is asked to opine on the prospects of a player winning a championship, the reply that follows is an informed one.

Having said all that, I think what Brunson did this postseason ranks him among the top clutch New York athletes of all time. By clutch, I mean coming through in the playoffs. But where does it rank? I decided to compile a top ten list from the last 60 years.

Without further ado,

1. Eli Manning: The man lived in the shadow of his brother Peyton his whole career, yet when it mattered most, he came up big in Super Bowls 42 and 46, earning not only MVP in both games, but the distinction of being the only quarterback in NFL history to beat Tom Brady twice in the Super Bowl. His postseason passer rating in 2011 was 103.3, and he led the NFL in passing yards with 1219 and touchdowns with 9.

2. Mark Messier: He had one mission when he came to Broadway: end the curse of 1940. His "guarantee" and subsequent hat trick in game 6 of the '94 conference finals stands as one of the most iconic moments in Rangers history, and his game-winning goal against the Canucks in game 7 of the finals delivered New York its first Stanley Cup in 54 years.

3. Jalen Brunson: The player who was too small, too slow and not a number one option, tied Micheal Jordan for most points in a road close-out finals game. Captain Clutch's overall performance in the finals is the singular reason the Knicks were able to end their 53 year drought. The man not only deserves his flowers; he deserves a whole damn florist. 

4. Walt Frazier: When Willis Reed got injured in game five of the 1970 NBA finals, the Knicks needed someone to step up and take charge. That someone was Clyde. His 36 points and 19 assists in game 7 enabled New York to win the first of its two titles in the '70s.

5. Reggie Jackson: Mr. October was no stranger to winning in the postseason. He was an integral part of that Oakland A's team that won three consecutive World Series. But it was his performance in game 6 of the '77 World Series that forever cemented his place in New York folklore. His three home runs against the Dodgers helped the Yankees clinch their first title since 1962. 

6. Joe Namath: In the late 1960s, everyone knew the NFL was the dominant league. The Green Bay Packers had routed the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders in Super Bowls 1 and 2, and now the Baltimore Colts were preparing to do the same to the Jets in Super Bowl 3. But Broadway Joe had other plans. He not only guaranteed his team would win, he went out and proved it. In what is still considered to this day the greatest upset in sports history, New York shocked Baltimore 16-7. The win not only made Namath a household name, it put the AFL on the map. One year later, the two leagues merged.

7. Mariano Rivera: Without question, the greatest closer in baseball history. He's the career leader in postseason saves (42), ERA (0.70) and WHIP (0.75). How impressive was Rivera? His ERA in the Yankees '98 and '99 playoff runs was 0.00 in 18 appearances. Indeed, from 1996 through 2000, he allowed just two earned runs in 56 innings. If there's such a thing as an automatic out, it was Rivera. 

8. Lawrence Taylor: From 1981 to 1993, the most feared defensive player in the NFL. He gave offensive coordinators fits and opposing quarterbacks nightmares. LT helped lead the Giants to two Super Bowl wins in '86 and '90, and turned Bill Belichick into a legend. 

9. Derek Jeter: In 7 World Series, Jeter had a batting average of .321, with an OPS of .832. Overall in the postseason, he hit .308 with 20 homers and 61 RBIs. During his Yankee career, which lasted 20 years, he finished 6th in team RBIs (1311) and 8th in team batting average (.310). He was the most consistent clutch player to wear the Pinstripes since Mickey Mantle. 

10. Brian Leetch: The 1994 Conn-Smyth winner led the Rangers with 34 points during their Cup run. The Calder and two-time Norris trophy winner was a fixture on New York's blue line until he was traded to the Maple Leafs in 2004. He's second for most points by American-born defensemen with 1028, 204 behind Phil Housley. 

At Last!

"For the rest of your life, men, nobody can ever tell you that you couldn't do it because you did it."

Bill Parcells, after the Giants won Super Bowl 21

The New York Knicks are the 2026 NBA champions!

I still can't believe it. I felt the same way when the Rangers won the Stanley Cup in 1994. That's what 53 years of failures can do to you. It can make you doubt what your own eyes and ears are telling you.

Even as the final seconds were ticking off, I still thought that something was going to happen that would ruin this moment. Wembanyama would be fouled as he hit a three pointer, he would then convert the free throw to send the game into overtime, where the Spurs would win and force a game 6. The Knicks would lose that game at the Garden and then lose game 7 back in San Antonio.

Another failure in a long list of failures.

Except that didn't happen. Wemby missed his three-pointer, OG Anunoby grabbed the rebound with one second left and threw the ball up into the air in celebration. The Knicks held on to win 94-90 to wrap up the series in five. Mike Breen summed it up best as the final buzzer sounded:

"IT'S OVER, KNICK FANS! THIS IS NOT A DREAM! YOUR LONG, LONG WAIT HAS ENDED! GO AHEAD AND CRY!"

And cry I did; like a baby. Tears of joy streamed down my cheeks. All those years of disappointment and heartache came pouring out at once. I have a feeling I wasn't alone.

For all the players who have come and gone since the last championship - Bob McAdoo, Ray Williams, Michael Ray Richardson, Bill Cartwright, Campy Russell, Bernard King, Patrick Ewing, John Starks, Anthony Mason, Charles Oakley, Allan Houston, Larry Johnson, Latrell Sprewell, Stephon Marbury, Jeremy Lin, Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler, J.R. Smith, R.J. Barrett, Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and all those I missed - this one's for you, too.

It wasn't easy. Like they had done in the previous four games, the men in orange and blue fell behind by double-digits in game five. For the series, New York was -57 in the first quarter, but +69 in the other three. That was the story of this final. The Knicks got stronger as the games wore on while the Spurs sputtered. The poise and resilience of the Knicks propelled them to victory while the immaturity and inexperience of the Spurs proved to be their undoing.

This was an historic run. The Knicks went 16-3 in the postseason, 9-1 on the road. The three losses were by a total of six points. Their overall point differential of 283 was 53 points higher than the 2017 Golden State Warriors: the team generally acknowledged as the best of all time. All four of their close out games came on the road. The 22 point comeback against the Cavs in game one of the Eastern Conference finals was surpassed only by their historic 29 point comeback against the Spurs in game four of the finals. Anyone who believes for a moment that this team did not earn its title doesn't know a damn thing about basketball.

The Finals MVP was, by unanimous vote, Jalen Brunson. On a night where the rest of his teammates didn't have it, the Captain dragged them across the finish line. His 45 points is tied with Michael Jordan for third most in a title-clinching game. He averaged 32.6 points per game in the finals, 28.4 overall in the playoffs. If there were any doubts that he was the best free-agent signing in NBA history they were put to bed in this series. His decision to leave $113 million on the table when he signed his latest contract is the reason this franchise ended its 53 year drought. It's no coincidence that after being slammed to the court by Wembanyama in game three, Brunson had his two best shooting performances in games four and five. The Russians were right: revenge is a dish best served cold. Not only is Brunson a "dude," he is, without question, the best clutch player in all of basketball.

But as great as Brunson was, he didn't do it all by himself; he had some help. OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart each contributed in their own way to the cause. Anunoby was making a case to be Finals MVP before Brunson dropped 45 in the clincher; Towns owned Wembanyama early in the series; Bridges made people forget about those draft picks; and Hart was pretty much a thorn in the side of San Antonio most of the series.

And now we come to the architect of this championship team. I think it's safe to say that Leon Rose was, without question, the best hire James Dolan has ever made as owner of this franchise. In addition to clearing out dead cap space, Rose methodically assembled one of the best rosters in the NBA. He hired Tom Thibodeau, signed Jalen Brunson, traded for Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns. And when he realized the Knicks had reached their ceiling with Thibodeau, he replaced him with Mike Brown. The only player he inherited that's still with the team is Mitchell Robinson.

Though Brown unleashed their potential, the toughness and resiliency that has come to define this group over the years came from Thibs. How else can you explain how this team was able to come back from 20 down multiple times over the past two postseasons? Any other team would've folded like a cheap tent. Not this one.

Even when they were going through that rough patch in January, the Knicks never wavered as a team. When they dropped games two and three against Atlanta and the season was hanging by a thread, they never lost their faith in one another. They knew they were up for the challenge and they proved it by winning 13 in a row and 15 of their last 16.

That's what makes them so beloved by their fans: that never say die attitude. Admit it: when they were down 10 early in the fourth, you knew they were going to pull it out, didn't you? So did the Spurs, I'm guessing.

And now this incredible season is over. The New York Knicks are the 2026 NBA champions. No one can ever take that away from them.

All that's left is the parade down the Canyon of Heroes Thursday morning. I was there when the Rangers had their parade in '94, and I will be there when the Knicks have theirs, along with about 3 to 5 million screaming and grateful fans.

They say all good things come to those who wait. To paraphrase the great Sam Rosen, Knicks fans have waited a lifetime for this moment. It's finally here.